I’ll admit it. I love flowers. Always have. I’ve planted gardens and helped choose the seasonal blooms from the time I was young in the midwest. But making the move to being a successful gardener in the Miami area has been a challenge. I’m ashamed to admit how many plants have come and gone over the years.

This year, I finally realized the mistake I’d been making all along. (And honestly, this applies across the board when you make a move to a different place and culture. Not just to plants.) I was trying to plant things I knew. Use the methods I learned growing up. I was trying to make the place and climate bend to my will and wants – to what I was used to and loved. Oops. Plants don’t care what you want. If they need cool weather and shade, they’ll die in hot weather and sun.

So this year, we’re starting over. We’re learning to adapt. Watch. Listen. Search out new and beautiful plants that I’ve never known before and sprinkle in a few that will adapt well.

And guess what? They’re flourishing. And so is our little family. It took me a long time to learn, but you can’t fight (or even ignore) the differences in an area and culture – you have to adapt, push, learn, search things out, grow, and change. My sense of bewilderment regarding how to search out the community and connect is finally giving way to a confidence in knocking on and pushing open doors. I’m learning how to find contractors, doctors, and sports and academic programs for our family. I’m learning how to be myself while adapting to different customs and cultures here.

And it’s good.

I’ll keep you posted on how the moonflowers are coming along throughout the summer…