Life lessons from larkspur

A few years ago I picked up some larkspur seed from a Master Gardener seed swap.  I didn't know what they were but I like to try new things.  Not knowing anything about them, I germinated them indoors like a tomato plant and then transplanted them to my garden.  Only a handful survived but the stalks of bright blue flowers really popped in the garden.  I heard that they were self seeding so when they were finished, I covered them up with a layer of mulch and waited for next year--nothing came up. 

If I wanted to grow larkspur again, I needed to do a little research.  What I learned is that annual larkspur (delphinium consolida) want to be planted where they are going to grow; no transplanting needed.  They will happily reseed but only on bare soil; mulching is counterproductive.   They also don't require supplemental watering or fertilizing.  They want the weeds pulled in the early spring and then they are happiest to be left to grow on their own.

After just two years, they have filled in a solid block in my garden, tall stalks covered with  blue flowers, accented with some pink and white.  I even have a few random larkspur plants scattered nearby, all with only a few minutes of weeding in early spring.

My experience with the larkspur also teaches me a lesson about my relationship with God.  So often, I want to live life my way, fixing things the way I think they should be arranged; and the results are disappointing.  God has a plan for my life and when I step back and follow his guidelines, (which are very simple) my life overflows with beauty and joy--just like my larkspur garden.