My silence here has not been intentional. Lots has happened since my presentation at Heronswood in September and mostly it’s just been a lot of school and work. The title of this post is a bit about that. My focus in the department is GREENHOUSE and I’m not doing much of it there this term.
The weekend before school started I led a Begonia class at Heronswood Garden. It was a great deal of fun.
Part of me wasn’t sure I’d be able to make it through, but I did with my usual zest. Weeks before I’d learned that I’d be going through the process of a diagnosis of Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency. I expect that I will receive treatment eventually, but I needed time to process what that would mean. It made a lot of sense since I’ve been struggling in new ways during the last year or two. It may end up ending other conditions I’ve been dealing with completely. I don’t know yet. It would be nice to take fewer medications though and feel better.
Basically, I’ve already been dealing with the worsening fatigue, but the memory loss and poor cognitive functioning have me hiding and just sticking to the basics. I’m struggling with writing again and that’s difficult for me.
Sadly, my apathy made things worse and I barely gardened this past summer. I worked a lot and oddly, some part of me knew something was wrong but that I’d be ok. I’m surrounded by so much love and support now I can’t find the right words for how I feel other than CALM.
At school and work I’m supported to the fullest extent during this latest medical transition. With friends I know, instructors who are familiar with me, and coworkers, we just try to joke about it. I feel badly being so sluggish, but I have to say that notebooks are helping immensely and my husband is helping me out by cooking a lot and running errands when necessary.
The biggest challenges at school are remembering Plant Science terms and the physical labor of harvesting and cooking with classmates in the Organic Farming classes. I signed up for Fall Harvest and Kitchen Herbs and all I can say is that Farmer Dawn is a bad ass.
Due to a scheduling glitch I was unable to take Soils, so I signed up for Food Writing instead. I think it was a great option. I will add writing from there to this site soon.
Somehow I am doing all of that while working just under 30 hours per week.
To say I’m driven is an understatement. I’m dragging myself around, meanwhile all I want to do is nap all day. I’m also reminded of the movie Memento. It’s not quite that bad, but my ability to forget right now is impressive.
Life at Little Prince of Oregon is engaging and amazing. I’m always willing to help out and do whatever is needed, and the challenge of new things from week to week is good for me. I do what I need to do as a Propagation Assistant.
Working at Secret Garden Growers is all about getting back to the basics of my love of propagation and production while working on leadership and managerial skills. I’m happy to say we’ll have a lot of fun stuff for next spring ready for gardeners, and by then, I should be feeling a bit more peppy and like myself again.
Lots to think about before June. What’s next? I’m not certain. Clearly, it will be lots of rest and gardening. I’ve been reluctant to sign up for more speaking engagements since I don’t feel as comfortable currently as my public self, but I’m crossing my fingers that will change by February/March. Until then, I’ll keep bumbling along, and I promise to add some more posts in November and December.
I’ll be at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show again in 2025, with an amazing lineup of speakers, and so many great friends. I hope to see you there!
Ann Loves Plants 
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