Lessons in Leadership

In the middle of the day, without even thinking why, I stopped to replant a shrub, transplanting it from an area that restricted its growth to a new area where it can spread its roots and flourish.  Within a few hours, the skies poured out a Texas gusher, enhancing the opportunity for the plant's quick acclimation, support and nurturing in its new home. Garden Gem:  Listen to your own intuition. What or who in your environment needs to be repositioned, uprooted, and transplanted to a new area for a fresh beginning and greater opportunity to grow and flourish?  Consider your employees:  are they growing stagnant in their areas of expertise?  How can they share their talents and gifts in new ways or new areas to benefit others and themselves?

In my garden, I had a beautiful plant that was the focal point of attention and pride in the flowerbed.  It was a hardy plant, a self-sustaining plant that didn't need anything...I thought.  It died from neglect.  I left it unattended, and it became diseased.  Neighboring plants became diseased as well - very quickly. Garden gem:  What needs your attention?  What are you taking for granted in your environment? Take heed. Notice those around you  - don't take anyone or anything for granted.  Neglect is a contagious disease that kills and spreads rapidly.

One of my flowerbeds was recently under siege by a host of aphids, swarming little critters that can destroy a single plant in a matter of a few days.  My first attempt at controlling the attack was to spray the bed with a bug killer.  It was highly toxic and had a horrible, lingering smell that permeated into the house.  Not a good choice.  My second plan of attack was to go to the local nursery and purchase an environmentally-sound can of poison.  Really?  I can't believe I bought that - physically or literally.  Again, poor choice.  It killed the aphids and kept them off for 7 days as guaranteed.  Problem:  it darn near killed every plant in the flowerbed and in 8 days, the aphids returned. My last and final choice was to seek out healthy choices - natural enemies of aphids:  ladybugs.  Not to be found in my local nurseries this year, I ordered 9K (yes, you read that right - 9000) ladybugs online.  They arrived as pro...