A Spring Tanka

11/2/2022

Hello blog friends!

Today author Colleen Chesebro invites us to create a syllabic poem with a specific color in mind. Her #TastetheRainbow challenge prompted me to focus on yellow.

In northern Arizona, at elevations exceeding 5,000 feet, temperatures have dropped, and leaves are falling. My vegetable garden is now mulched and bare of its bounty. I stripped tomato and zucchini roots, took down the bean vines, and tilled the ground. Somewhere in that mix, I decided to add an additional raised bed. That sounds easy, doesn't it?

The picture below is my new raised bed. To create it, I took away 2 wheelbarrows of rock, pieced together metal siding, and then added enriched soil and mulch. Sore? Mightily. But I'm ever so proud to see the result. 😊

My Tanka -

Have you begun preparing for Spring? I'd love to know. 💛

30 Comments

Jill Weatherholt link

11/3/2022 02:38:28

Your raised bed looks beautiful, Gwen. I'll admit, I haven't prepared for spring, but you've inspired me! Loved your Tanka today! xo

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 06:05:34

Thank you, dear Jill. I'm learning as I go. There's a food bank close by where I share my harvest. It's a heart-filling experience for sure. ❤️

Staci Troilo link

11/3/2022 05:42:48

Wow, you've been hard at work. It looks amazing. And I loved your poem. Beautifully done, Gwen. Now you can rest and enjoy the fruits of your labors.

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 06:15:24

Thank you, Staci. Physical work helps me forget about the election mess and other unpleasantries. As sore as I am, my mind is clearer now. 😊

Elizabeth Gauffreau link

11/3/2022 05:45:05

Your raised bed looks great! My husband has done some garden and yard preparation for spring. (My modus operandi is to wait for snow to cover up the autumn mess.)

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 06:09:51

Your modus operandi makes me chuckle, Liz. I suspect part of my motivation is fear of facing the mess in April. 🤗

Harmony Kent link

11/3/2022 05:52:30

Two wheelbarrows of rock! Wow, Gwen, you’ve earned a rest for sure. The bed looks lovely, and your Tanka is beautiful. Hugs 💕🙂

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 06:13:08

Thank you, Harmony. It was an awful task, but it's kind of hilarious when I do things like this. Since no one is around, I give myself pep talks. "Just a little more, I can do this, etc." It's craziness, but it works. 🤗

Priscilla Bettis link

11/3/2022 06:05:28

I enjoyed your poem, Gwen! The raised bed looks incredible.

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 06:17:16

Thank you, Priscilla. I've always lived in areas where I could plant in the soil. This is a new experience for me, but I'm learning. 😊

Marcia Meara link

11/3/2022 06:48:29

Beautiful as always, Gwen! You are so good at these, and they always speak to me. 😊❤️

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 12:21:05

So sweet of you to say, Marcia. I'm learning and enjoying poetry more and more. ❤️

Jacqui Murray link

11/3/2022 09:11:01

My sis just went through that with her garden--tearing it down. I love your new raised one.

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 12:32:02

I'm so glad you like it, Jacqui. It's not difficult to put together, just takes time. The hard part is dealing with the rocks. OMG. 🌞

john howell link

11/3/2022 10:22:45

Wow that bed looks terrific. I haven't done anything for spring except look forward to the live oak leave dropping tons on the backyard. A beautiful poem, Gwen

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 12:26:42

Thank you, John. The leaves started dropping a few days ago in this area, but with today's snowstorm, I suspect the trees will be bare soon. I get help for that project, guys with big blowers -- and trucks that haul it all away. 😊

Karen Ingalls

11/3/2022 11:28:17

Enjoying fall, not thinking about spring. There is a lesson for me!
Wonderful poem, Gwen.

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 12:27:42

Thank you, Karen. We're in the middle of a snowstorm today, so I got the raised bed ready just in the nick of time. 😊

Jan Sikes

11/3/2022 11:29:58

It's never too soon to start looking forward to spring, Gwen. I love the raised bed. You did a great job and the tanka is lovely!

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 12:30:36

Thanks so much, Jan. I'm glad I finished that project. It's snowing now, so I won't be working in the garden till Spring. 😊

Mae Clair link

11/3/2022 11:40:53

Wow! That raised bed looks absolutely beautiful. Come spring, I wouldn't mind doing something like that.

The tanka is lovely too and positively speaks to the autumn season. Bravo, Gwen!

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2022 12:28:51

Thank you so much, Mae. Maybe it's because I grew up on a farm, but I love working outside. ❤️

D. Wallace Peach link

11/3/2022 18:46:56

Good for you, Gwen. That's a lot of work, but it will be wonderful to have those fresh veggies in the spring. A beautiful poem about flowing with the seasons. Hugs.

Gwen M. Plano

11/4/2022 20:12:56

Thank you so much, Diana. We just had our first snowfall, so I'm especially pleased that I've finished my gardening project. 😊

[email protected] link

11/3/2022 21:15:27

Looks like a labor of love. Beautiful raised bed. It is nice and cool weather to get things ready for spring.

Gwen M. Plano

11/4/2022 20:13:51

Thank you, Jade. Just as you said, it is a labor of love. ❤️

Colleen link

11/4/2022 13:31:36

I love how you prepared your beds for spring. When I lived in Northern AZ, I grew so many vegetables our first summer. The second summer, I had issues. I found out I needed to add more compost and nutrients to my raised beds. You learn something new every growing year. LOL! This is a lovely tanka. ❤️

Gwen M. Plano

11/4/2022 20:14:56

Thank you, Colleen, for sharing your words of wisdom. I'll be adding nutrients for sure now. 😊

Elizabeth link

11/4/2022 18:10:51

Nice raised bed! I've one too and it is also ready for spring. Lovely poem, Gwen.

Gwen M. Plano

11/4/2022 20:16:07

Wonderful, Elizabeth! Thank you, now I know who I can turn to for guidance. YAY! 😊

A Spring Tanka

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