Springtime has finally arrived in the northeast US – just in the nick of time.

As I was having my 2nd cup of tea this morning, I gave notice to the “Christmas Cactus” that’s blooming in our front window. The Grasshopper gave me this horticultural handout: “Blooming is the job of the flower.”

It sounded like a line from the old TV show Kung Fu until I let it germinate for a bit.

It seems we can plant seeds, cultivate them, give them water and nutrients but when it comes to blooming, we really have no role or control.

The flower or plant will bloom on its own or not.

Have you planted something, followed all the recommended protocols and still got no bloom for the buck? Stop fretting. You did all you could do – the blooming is not up to you.

I know the Home and Garden Show comes to my area in February, not a time of year for natural blooming. So the growers “force bloom” the flowers under artificial conditions so they’ll be attractive for the show.

Artificially blooming with people is a disservice. It doesn’t allow them to blossom on their own: to have their own trials, failures and successes. This causes them to seek out artificial methods – shortcuts – as the norm rather than the exception.

Shortcuts will cut your successes short. You may look good for the show but you go home and wilt.

If you’re into force blooming, let me borrow a phrase from my photography teacher, Peter Hurley: “Stop it now!”

This is the time of year things bloom on their own. Get out of the way and let it happen or not. You’ve done your job; now let them do theirs.

All the best,

John