Charlotte Observer Logo

Bloom where you're planted... | Charlotte Observer

×
  • E-edition
  • Customer Service
  • Advertise
  • Newsletters

    • News
    • Local
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Election
    • Politics
    • Nation/World
    • Special Reports
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Corrections
    • Columnists
    • Retro Charlotte
    • Your Schools
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Sports
    • Carolina Panthers
    • Charlotte Hornets
    • That's Racin'
    • High Schools
    • College Sports
    • Charlotte Knights/MLB
    • Other Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Inside the Panthers
    • Inside the NBA
    • Prep Insiders
    • Scott Fowler
    • Tom Sorensen
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The North Carolina Influencer Series
    • RNC 2020
    • Business
    • Banking
    • Stocks Center
    • Top Workplaces
    • National Business
    • What's in Store
    • Development
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Living
    • Religion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Family
    • Home & Garden
    • CLT Style
    • Travel
    • Living Here Guide
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • I'll Bite
    • Kathleen Purvis
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Arts/Culture
    • Events
    • Movie News & Reviews
    • Restaurants
    • Music/Nightlife
    • Television
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Rewards
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Kevin Siers
    • Letters
    • Submit an Op-ed
    • Submit a Letter
    • Viewpoint
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • O-Pinion
    • You Write The Caption
    • Taylor Batten
    • Peter St. Onge
  • Celebrations
  • Obituaries
  • TV Listings

  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Virtual Career Fair
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Place an ad
  • Mobile & Apps

  • MomsCharlotte
  • Carolina Bride Magazine
  • South Park Magazine

Moms Columns & Blogs

Bloom where you're planted...

Carolina Sonshine - Charlotte Observer

    ORDER REPRINT →

August 26, 2014 11:17 AM

Image Media

Bloom where you’re planted…

 

You would think it would be easy, since I already have roots here, but it’s not.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

 

Since we sold our house six weeks ago, I have been fussing and complaining to various degrees…   Not constantly, but far more often than I care to consider…   At times I’ve hardly been able to stand being around myself.

 

John’s ongoing delight in our new surroundings hasn’t helped my disposition…

 

So I’ve retreated.   For years now, I’ve sought and found a measure of peace outside in the garden.   As space is extremely limited in our current residence, the yard has become the place to find my lost composure…

 

There’s plenty of work to be done, as the lot has been mostly neglected for decades; I also brought plants with me that I couldn’t bear to leave behind: an assortment of daylilies and iris, a lilac, a Japanese maple and a gardenia.

 

Every gardener knows, however, that transplanting is a tricky business…

 

I treated all of my special treasures the same: careful site selection, appropriate soil amendments and ample watering.   Of the three shrubs, only the gardenia has managed to survive.  

 

I’m surprised it’s done so well, since it is the oldest and biggest of the bunch.   But I’m grateful, because it’s also the most important to me…my girlfriends, the “S” contingent, gave it to me six years ago in Brian’s memory.  

 

In the past I’ve observed that older, established plants struggle mightily when abruptly relocated.  

 

Kind of like me.

 

And yet here is my beloved gardenia, reaching for the sky without reservation, despite the new environment.

 

I don’t know why we’re here; it could be for any number of reasons of which I’m aware or possibly others yet to be revealed…

 

I’ve got to stop thinking about the ‘why’ and accept the ‘where’.   It’s time to settle in and make peace with this change of scenery.  

 

Taking a clue from the gardenia, I’m going to look up, reach out and pray for acceptance until peace finally takes hold in my heart…

 

Wishing you blessings and hope…

Tammy will update her blog weekly…

  Comments  

Videos

UNC’s Coby White reveals favorite Duke-Carolina game, and it’s not what you’d expect

Nate McMillan and LeVelle Moton share Enloe basketball memories

View More Video

Trending Stories

DNA testing needed to identify mystery animal that attacked and killed NC teacher

February 18, 2019 07:37 AM

‘The whole community is terrified’: Hundreds rally against increased ICE presence in NC

February 18, 2019 07:12 PM

Six Charlotte men arrested on drug charges are linked to Mexican cartel, feds say

February 18, 2019 05:49 PM

Bladen County operative ‘told us what we were to say’ at hearing, worker testifies

February 18, 2019 06:00 AM

Operative at center of NC election fraud hearing won’t testify

February 18, 2019 02:16 PM

things to do

Read Next

5 Supplies Teachers Need That Are On Sale Now

Deal Diva

5 Supplies Teachers Need That Are On Sale Now

Tara McAlister

    ORDER REPRINT →

August 17, 2016 05:37 PM

Great deals on supplies your teachers will appreciate having in the classroom this year.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE MOMS COLUMNS & BLOGS

Best Back to School Deals of the Week

Deal Diva

Best Back to School Deals of the Week

August 08, 2016 09:06 PM
The Deal Diva’s Top Tips for Back-to-School Savings

Deal Diva

The Deal Diva’s Top Tips for Back-to-School Savings

August 06, 2016 01:23 PM
Ask the Pediatrician: New Moms and Breastfeeding

Rhonda Patt

Ask the Pediatrician: New Moms and Breastfeeding

August 04, 2016 07:24 PM
Get Ready to Stockpile with Super Doubles Event This Week

Deal Diva

Get Ready to Stockpile with Super Doubles Event This Week

July 24, 2016 08:05 AM
Ask the Pediatrician: Swimmer’s Ear

Rhonda Patt

Ask the Pediatrician: Swimmer’s Ear

July 11, 2016 01:20 PM
5 questions: Here's what you need to know about Amazon.com's Prime Day

Deal Diva

5 questions: Here's what you need to know about Amazon.com's Prime Day

July 07, 2016 09:03 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Charlotte Observer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story