,​            In a recent Wall Street Journal article I read that last summer the Chicago Cubs manager Joe Madden met Clemson University’s football coach in the Cub’s clubhouse at Wrigley Field during a rain delay.  Interestingly, both Madden and Clemson’s Coach Dabo Swinney are champs now; the Cubs having won a classic World Series last Fall and Clemson having just beaten favored Alabama in the last seconds of the NCAA Football Championship.
            When they met Madden was wearing a tee-shirt with the words, “Try Not to Suck,” a simple statement that might go a long way to explaining these men's philosophies to playing the game and their winning ways.  Apparently both men bring a much less authoritarian control freak style to their teams than is traditional in their sports and both emphasize having fun and avoiding mistakes where in essence the players lose games to themselves.
            Of course all of this is quite simplistic—but “try not to suck” doesn’t seem like a bad philosophy to me.  Initially it seems like common sense and not all that difficult.  And that is what makes it attractive and worth trying.  Then you realize that trying not to suck is a commitment and an attitude and it takes concentration and self-discipline.  As you try to master trying not to suck, you realize the importance of preparation and developing procedures or processes for all phases of your sport, other pursuit, or life in general.  And once you have figured out what you need to do in a situation, you have to follow that process.
            Anyone who has watched much football has definitely seen this scenario:  a receiver is suddenly wide open and the football pass is right on target.  But instead of making a routine catch and then beginning a heroic run to the goal line, the receiver drops the ball as he fails to direct sufficient attention to catching—thinking instead about that great run to come or perhaps an advancing defender.  Maybe if the player was consciously trying not to suck, he would have reminded himself before the start of the play to prioritize his concentration and avoid distraction and so made the catch.
            I can’t say we ever had a clever edgy name for our philosophy of being ready for business at Redbud Creek Farm, but trying not to suck certainly describes what we do, indeed what we have to do, as we deal with so many factors over which we have no control.  Does trying not to suck have relevance for the gardener?  I think so.
            Everyone desires immediate satisfaction from their plantings.  Instead of hoping for miracles and being disappointed, I think folks will be a lot better off celebrating whatever good things are going on with their gardens while practicing basic good techniques of closely matching plants to their needs, providing adequate water and fertilizer, constantly upgrading the soil, and adopting successful weeding strategies.  Trying not to suck does not have to mean that the garden will never be spectacular anymore than that a sports team which practices this philosophy will not perform with aplomb and win.  It should mean that with a bit more concentration and doing things right on a regular basis that we will be in an even better position to achieve success in gardening and indeed all of our endeavors.
            Many years ago I attended a wonderful university with a storied football program full of success.  Sometime after I graduated a legendary successful coach installed a sign, “Play like a Champion Today,” where players would see it just before taking the field.  Traditionally I love that philosophy, play like a champion, but I don’t think my new idea, try not to suck is opposed to it.  To me they are linked; if we work in humility at trying not to suck—we might just get the exultation of playing like champions.  Good luck!    

​            I guess the 2017 season began for Nancy and me today, since this was our first workday of the new year at the Farm.  Actually Nancy consumed most of yesterday checking on orders for annual plant material and herbs to the point of pain.  Not that healthy pain that comes from working in the garden; rather that unpleasant discomfort of an almost locked up upper back and strained neck that comes from too long of a period interacting with a computer.
            Today is not what you would call a nice day—high in the mid teens with increasing west winds, the kind that keep Old Glory flying straight out, and patchy skies that allow some greenhouse heating—just not enough of such natural warming.
            Nancy and Dana work on removing exhibits in the store that were used for Christmas.  Taylor takes down umpteen strings of Christmas lights before starting a project in House 1 to add some exhibit/work space by the flood tables.  I begin the task of starting to make placards for each greenhouse explaining what types of plants are available within.  These signs will be made of wood and painted with special verve by our artist/illustrator, Devona.  Even if you don’t read them, I’m hoping that you will find them cute, attractive and somehow adding to the Farm plant-hunting experience.  And if people do read them, maybe we can share a little more about plant attributes and a little less about where they can be found.  

A typical Devona-created sign...if you use a little imagination, you can channel a bit of warmth & maybe a hint of aromatic smoke from the FFA cooking pork chops at this year's Annual Celebration of Summer, June 17, 2017.

​            It is the Saturday after Thanksgiving and as is typical in most years the Season of Advent begins for most Christian denominations on Sunday.  One of our local churches celebrates a “Hanging of the Greens” Service to mark the beginning of Advent and their spiritual journey toward Christmas.
            For years they have included the Farm in their service by procuring Farm-made wreaths and a garland for the church entrance area.  We have always welcomed the sale of the greens and hung them as a small service to the members of that important community pillar.
            The afternoon is amazingly pleasant for late November and it shouldn’t take very long to hang the garland.  Before I start, I add some fresh nails and begin to wire the fresh garland around the church entrance.  But damn—there is a little bit of a problem.  The garland is too short; if left in place it would look like someone wearing pants that are a couple of sizes too small—not very flattering especially as a symbol of everlasting life.  So I take down the garland and head back to the Farm to get a 30’ rather than the usual 25’ garland that we have used for years.  Apparently my new nails have rounded out a more attractive but slightly longer path for the garland.  And our new garland winding machine is equipped with a totally accurate builtin measuring gauge so the garlands from years past may have been a little longer than they were meant to be.  It is kind of maddening but on this pretty afternoon I remain calm.
            Back at the Farm,  a family of accomplished musicians are taking turns playing Christmas carols on the Farm piano located on the Big Barn porch.  The carols are so beautiful wafting across the landscape.  While Taylor goes to work making my new 30’ garland, I get ready to take a walk with my son Ben who is visiting from Florida for the holiday weekend.
            We amble off to strains of Pachelbel’s Canon coming from the piano.  It is just the beginning of the piece as drama and tension build.  Our first stop is to overlook the River’s quiet flow.  The water is darkly clear but its mirrored surface reflects the streaky sky’s myriad of late afternoon color.  Then we walk around the field past tall weeds and prairie plants and grasses as the sun drops toward the horizon and finally sets.  I think that Canon in D still playing in my head is an apt accompaniment to a really pretty walk and sunset. 
            Outside of Greenhouse 7 I grab the new 30’ garland and then head the truck back to the church even though it is now nearly dark.  The church entrance is well illuminated by a sign and I am able to quickly hang the fresh garland, trimming just a bit off of each end.  Then I hang the two 24” Fraser Fir wreaths with hand-tied red velvet bows, one on each door.   In my opinion the church’s simple traditional entranceway looks beautiful with the addition of the garland and wreaths.  I’ve done my Hanging of the Greens service for this year.  Of course the real “Hanging of the Greens” Service will come in the morning.  But I feel very lucky, the greens have framed a late afternoon/evening full of beauty and camaraderie.  I have been blessed.