Beginning the 2nd professional nursery job, of my life, in my 20's, this time propagation was involved too, I was given an apron. To wear. Oh my. As if punching a time clock, with a college degree, weren't enough, I had to wear an apron too? Honestly, dad died without ever knowing these 2 facts about my career, which was not a career to him but an embarrassment wrapped in shame.
Pic, above, www.BowlandPitcher.com
During those 2.5 years of nursery/propagation work, wearing an apron, I was in bed most nights by 9pm. Tired, but happy. The work was exhausting, leaving little time, or strength, for working in my own garden.
Pic, above, from www.Frabrics-Store.com
The happy day of resigning arrived, bingo, full-time self-employed designing gardens. And, energy abounded to put into my own garden.
Pic, above, www.MagnoliaPearl.com
About 2 hours into working my own garden, after leaving the nursery, something was wrong. Work was not flowing, easily. Too many little trips trodding a path to get something. And, this was before cell phones.
Pic, above, via, The Hearty Home, and with a tutorial to make the apron.
Aside from the obvious about propagation, and learning how to work 4 different types of professional greenhouses, I had learned how to work, wearing an apron. That foe, the apron. Epiphany taken, G*d does have a sense of humor, the apron was full circle back in my life.
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Needs for MY garden apron. Tough fabric yet lightweight for summer heat/humidity, hold cell phone, Felcos, weeds, trash, a treat for the chics, etc. All my aprons have been worn at the waist, until now.
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Moving to our small homestead has changed the type of apron needed. Need something more functional than a waist apron & don't want to tie strings. Done with that.
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On the hunt for the apron, above. It seems most functional. The entire apron 'thing' is still amusing, to me, decades later. Wish dad had lived longer to get the epiphany about my gardening. Going thru paperwork after he died I found his Air Force discharge papers from his test pilot days. He only had 1 other completed course, aside from test piloting, psychological warfare training. That made me smile! My gardening, professionally, about did him in.
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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
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Two best garden tools? Felco pruners & my apron.