From Gardener to Magician: Lessons from My First Summer Yard

Only the Strong Survive the Heat

If you’ve ever tried gardening in the middle of a scorching summer, you’ll know it feels a little like survival of the fittest. Plants wilt, leaves crisp, and you wonder why you ever thought you could keep anything alive in the first place.

And yet — here I am, standing in my yard, staring at actual vegetables and herbs that somehow survived my beginner’s hands and the desert heat. This first year of gardening has been a crash course in patience, persistence, and maybe a little bit of magic.

Learning as You Go

I didn’t start this season knowing the difference between pruning and pinching back. Honestly, I just threw a few seeds and starts into the dirt and hoped for the best. But slowly, with a lot of trial and error (and a bit of Googling), I began to notice what worked and what didn’t.

Watering early in the morning instead of the blazing afternoon. Giving plants space to breathe. Learning when to step in and when to let nature do her thing. Each mistake became a lesson, and each small victory felt like a triumph.

The Joy of Small Wins

There’s nothing quite like walking outside and spotting a watermelon nestled under its vines or snipping fresh herbs for dinner. These little moments carry so much joy because they come with the memory of the process — the sweat, the waiting, the not knowing if it would work.

And that’s when it hit me: gardening isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up, paying attention, and being willing to grow right alongside your plants.

Why Gardening Feels Like Magic

Somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t “just gardening.” I was creating something beautiful and alive in my own backyard. Watching something sprout, grow, and thrive under your care feels less like a hobby and more like a kind of everyday magic.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: you don’t need to know everything to start. You just need to begin, stick with it, and let yourself be surprised by what blooms.

An Invitation to Try

If you’ve ever thought, “I could never garden,” I want to encourage you to give it a shot. You might just surprise yourself. Because somewhere between pulling weeds and cheering for your first tomato, you’ll realize you’re not just a gardener.

You’re a magician too.