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Columnist Tom Atwell. See that smile? Gardening is never drudgery for Atwell. Portland Sunrise Rotary Club photo Some gardeners don’t enjoy gardening.

They like plants and the way those plants look in their gardens. They may even take pride in the results of the work that they do. But they dread the drudgery, the insects, the labor and dirtiness of actually tending the plants.



This was brought home to me by a Facebook posting from Kathy Eliscu, a friend who decades ago wrote freelance articles for special sections I edited in this newspaper about aging people – named at various times “Senior Living,” “Seniority” and even “Boomers,” which wasn’t the insult then that it has since become. Eliscu had just come inside after working in her garden on a warm, buggy day when she wrote a slightly grumpy post and added a photo of her just planted raised garden beds. “CONFESSION: I really don’t like the tasks of gardening.

Dirt, sweat, bugs...

but I love the outcome. Here is the beginning of my little garden spot. My immediate response, a response my wife, Nancy, says is way too common, was, “Maybe I could write a column about that.

” I absolutely enjoy the time I spend in the garden. For me, the best times are harvesting vegetables and cutting flowers to bring inside , but planting – whether seedlings or seeds – is also a pleasure. I even enjoy weeding, mostly because it is mindless, so I can let my mind wander to future columns, fishing trips, travel plans,.

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