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Seed-Blog

Welcome to our seed-blog! From time to time we will highlight what William has going on in his garden and in his work. Check back now and again to see what's new!

The new year

1/5/2022

3 Comments

 
Picture
Ray Dellinger on his Porch with Izzy, Courtesy of Jeannette Dellinger.
I have (like many other people I'm sure) entered into this new year with deep trepidation, not to mention a nice complimentary wave of depression. The turn of the year has become especially tough for me as I have leaned more and more into the work of gardening and maintaining the special roots and seeds of friends. It's the time when I have to start really thinking hard about what will go into the limited ground in my care. So many deserving little sleeping frozen gems. There's also many trees to prune, (perhaps others to graft) This year in particular, I also have the added weight of many un-started projects--between Bobby McMillon's papers and books, my South Arts Emerging Artist program, and also a long-time-coming CD. 

See, I both love the work of gardening, and also strangely dread the responsibility of caring for a garden. I also dread the disappointments and frustrations that seem to be largely absent from the oh-so-cultivated-and-perfect gardens that people share on instagram. Please, show me your errors, your messes, your mistakes. What "eyesore" is left out of frame? 

Today I made my way down to the lower garden, hoping against hope that a very special plant had pulled through--despite my rather poor care of them. This fall I had dug up a few roots of my dear friend Ray Dellinger's horseradish plants. They had always been there at his place beside the camper. A neat strip contained by mowing. I dug them up before the old place sold, determined to keep up a little connection between me and a dear friend taken by 2021 and Alzheimer's. But In my scattered state, I promptly forgot them for a week or more in the root cellar. I knew Horseradish to be survivors, but they looked terrible (and for the forty billionth time in my life I was furious with my absent-mindedness). But I hoped hard, put them in a tender hill in the bottom, and covered it with a blanket of straw. Nothing much happened after that despite this global weirdness warm, and I grieved losing another little part of Ray. 

Today, as we were moving an old chicken-coop-turned-tool-shed down to the lower garden. I risked a look at my little straw-covered row and was filled up with joy to find that every bit of root I stuck in the ground had sprouted a beautiful little fractal crown of horseradish.  I was reminded then of that sister emotion to grief, and close kin of Joy:

Wonder.  

And how good wonder-surprise-joy feels when it pours into those holes left by grief pouring out.  It is dangerous to love.  There's a grief-price you must be willing to pay.  I will let some of my plants down this year, bugs and varmits will eat others, tornado winds may rip through the holler again and flatten half my corn, and I may lose out on the seeds for something that just can't be replaced.  There's no seed catalog for the things I grow.  It hurts, it's embarrassing, and frustrating, but goodness is it worth it when those little sleepers burst through the clay and open up their arms.  And good food is just a healing thing.  They say hunger is the best spice.  But "I grew that" is damn delicious. 

So here's to wonder, joy, and grief.  Can't have one without the other.

And Jeannette, thank you so much for this picture, of Ray in his element with two of his favorite joys.  There's really not words to describe how grateful I am for it. 
3 Comments
Kiesa Kay
1/6/2022 06:39:18 am

I am so glad that Ray Dellinger's horseradish grows in your garden. It has been a difficult year. Your blog post reminds me that soon spring will arrive again.

Reply
Jeannette S Dellinger
1/6/2022 09:42:40 am

William,
This article made me cry. In general, it has been a hard year, but Ray is still working his magic. I know he is smiling and maybe giggling a little. When Ray left his construction business to work the farm, he had plenty of disappointments and then sickness eventually prevented him from doing what he loved to do. So he went to plan B and never gave up. He was so proud of you and trust me, he is smiling and proud of you now. You see, for Ray, it was never about the accomplishments but relationships, good conversation, creatures like Issi, the beauty of nature, a sense of place, and good friends with good hearts. I can never thank you enough for being there for Ray. You are way too hard on yourself. I think Ray is telling you through the horseradish to take a deep breath and keep the faith. He will visit you again. With Love, Jeannette

Reply
Rodney Sutton link
1/7/2022 10:40:02 am

Oh William - what a beautiful tribute to your friendship with Ray - and with your love and dedication of gardening! While we share a love of ballads, old-time music and those who share them with us - I am afraid that I would only bring more bad-luck to your gardening projects. If green is the color of magical gardening thumbs then mine must be the color of dirt - they don't even show up - they are invisible!!!! And I chose to use the term dirt instead of soil - since all of my gardening exploits have never grown anything to amount to even the slightest flavoring for a hearty stone soup!!!!

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  • Home
  • About
    • Photos
  • Programs
    • Bean-String Ballad-Sing
    • Registration
    • Live Links
  • Songs
    • Mentor
  • Seed
    • Sweet Potatoes
  • Projects
    • Ray Dellinger Memorial Garden
    • Bobby McMillon Legacy >
      • Legacy Podcast
      • Cassette Transfers
      • Folklife On the Go
      • Hunting Tale
      • A Very Unfortunate Man
      • Field Recordings by Bobby
      • Videos From University Collections
    • Resources & How-Tos
  • Blog
  • Newsletter