Anticipation

Anticipation © John Sloane “Preparation and anticipation ... these ideas occupy a farmer or gardener in early spring.  Sometimes, though, weather simply doesn’t co-operate with one’s desire to work outside, and you must first cultivate patience before anything else. My scene sums up this feeling of eagerness to do a job, mingled with acceptance of a necessary delay. There is an ancient complex folklore about gardening by the moon. Old-time almanacs were full of moon signs and guides to bring one’s efforts into harmony with lunar and natural cycles. For example, as the ‘dark’ new moon grew brighter, it was considered the best time to plant above-ground crops, transplant, or prune trees to encourage growth. As the moon waned, it was the best time to weed, mow, or prune to discourage growth.”