In early March I started a number of seeds and heated them under grow lights in my garage. I've maintained this practice that I start in late winter for several years, and it always brings me great joy. For the few minutes the seedlings take daily to water, I get the opportunity to admire the thin slivers of green poke through the soil remind me spring is on the way. I am fostering life.
As the weather warms I harden these plants by placing them in the driveway during the day and returning them to the protection of my garage at night. My plants are started in typical plastic cylinders from last year's tomato plants and other succulents I purchased at a local farm. The driveway creates a microclimate between the heat being absorbed by the black pavement and bouncing off the garage doors. Consequently, a 50 degree day is much, much warmer.
Earlier in the week, I left them in the driveway and went to work. When I returned most of them wilted to death under the heat. The few tablespoons of potting medium dried quickly and there was no chance for the delicate seedlings to survive. What started as flats full of Swiss Chard, various kales, and Mizuna now have a few hardy remainders that will find their spots in the garden today.
This is not the first time I've done this during the course of my gardening life. I am reminded of Einstein's definition of insanity, which is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
I don't view what happened as a waste of time or a reduction in productivity. Rather, I was responsible for wasting life. As gardeners we are asked to be stewards of life, whether it is the soil or the seed. I failed in the most basic tenant in that role. While I don't wish to melodramatic over it, I also understand that if I want to be a better steward of my garden I need to pay greater attention.
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