Time versus Impact

The weather hasn’t gotten ridiculously hot yet, which I’m eternally grateful for. It allows me the opportunity to sit outside and enjoy the breeze, a little bit of sun and watch butterflies flit around the plants I keep trying to grow. I admit I’m growing flowers selfishly. I like pretty plants and enjoy the idea of someone walking by and being impressed with what has been grown. I’m not there yet and constantly have to remind myself that I’ve only been at the new place a short time, but I keep putting plants in the ground just to see if they will take hold.

I’m also continuing to fight a losing battle against the vines but who knows where that will end up. I keep hoping that if I put enough plants in that it will minimize the room the vines are trying to take over. I may need to consult a landscaper but that will be a next year project. This year I need to focus on what I will need to get me through the heat of summer with the plants intact, as well as keeping the house from overheating.

I realize that a lot of what I’m trying to do for the house is forward thinking. Planting a maple in front so it will grow and eventually shade the front of the house from the eastern sun isn’t something I will realize even in the next few years. But setting it up now will hopefully help my bills by the time I’ve retired. Putting in thermal windows is a great start to helping keep the house an agreeable temp as well as build equity.

The hard part, is the balance of time needed to make the impact and the impact desired to make the best of time. I’d like the tree to provide shade now because it gets hot with the constant sun, but I need the time for the tree to grow. I plant the flowers for the impact and recognize they still need time to establish, get bigger, flourish. And when they flourish, the larger or more prolific the flowers to bring the butterflies so I can enjoy the beauty of it.