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Gardening Our Dreams

Feb 27, 2026 09:27AM ● By Marlaina Donato

Cristian Zamfir/Shutterstock

Like spring seeds carried by the wind, we sometimes find ourselves in unfamiliar circumstances, unsure of how we arrived there. Whether we believe it to be chance or choice, it is up to us to seize opportunities for growth. When confronted with the unknown, uncertainty can yield to a sense of empowerment if we recall that each day presents a banquet of choices, and the small decisions we make daily are acts of self-nourishment.

Spring can be a clean slate—a fresh, thawed soil in which to sow something courageous and new. With the wisdom gained from our winters, we can travel forward, even if we don’t have a map to guide the way. In the beginning, all we need is a spark, and it is okay if no one else sees its potential to ignite.

The renowned artist and sculptor Michelangelo believed that every block of stone contains a masterpiece waiting to be discovered and set free. Seasoned gardeners meticulously plan their harvests long before the first warm days appear, stockpiling seed catalogs and mapping out goals. Inspired chefs court flavor pairings, and expectant mothers design nurseries. Perhaps we need to remember that we are all creators in our own right and capable of trusting our own vision.

Many of our aspirations are thwarted by decision paralysis because we overanalyze and ignore intuition. A more promising path may be to combine passion with patience, allowing each small step to organically lead into another. Maintaining our focus in the present moment and keeping our eye on the path—rather than the destination—leaves room for an outcome more fruitful than we might have imagined.

 

This month’s to-do list:

 

•   Trust inspiration.

•   Start a journal to record ideas and build upon them.

•   Cheer for someone else’s goals.

 

Marlaina Donato is an author, artist and composer. Connect at WildflowersAndWoodSmoke.com.


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In-Print, Inspiration National Content March 2026

 

 

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Tick Tackler

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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