🌱 Seedling Sorrows: What I Learned When Almost Everything Died

I had grand hopes for my first seedling experiment. Visions of lush sprouts crowding my windowsill. Tiny trays of green reaching for the sun. And maybe — just maybe — enough baby plants to kick off a thriving beginner garden.

Instead? Well… they died. Every last one, except my lone hydrangea seedling, who now holds the title of sole survivor like a plant world Katniss Everdeen.

🌿 A Practical Note: What Went Wrong

I’ve pieced together a few culprits:

– I started too many varieties all at once. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, a few flowers — it was chaos in a tray.
– I didn’t give them enough light. I thought a sunny window would be enough, but apparently, my seedlings had other opinions.
– I might’ve overwatered. Or underwatered. Honestly? It depended on the day and how much I was doubting myself.

In short: rookie mistakes. The kind every beginner makes. But oof, it still stung.

🌼 A Seasonal Shift: Letting Go of Perfect Starts

There’s something poetic about failing in spring. The season that promises fresh starts — and humbling resets. I wanted this to be the beginning of something beautiful, and it still is… it’s just not the kind of “beautiful” I had in mind.

🪴 A Story in a Single Sprout

That one little hydrangea though? She’s hanging in there. And so am I. We’re both figuring it out — one leaf at a time. I check on her every morning like she’s a tiny green miracle, and maybe she is.

Next time, I’ll try fewer varieties. Better lighting. A more consistent watering rhythm. And a bigger dose of grace.

🌻 A Soulful Reminder: This Is Still the Beginning

Gardening, like life, rarely rewards perfection. It rewards attention. Curiosity. The willingness to try again even when things go sideways in the seed tray. So this post isn’t a how-to — it’s a permission slip.

To start. To fail. To be tender about it. And to try again anyway.

When all but one seedling gave up on me, I nearly gave up too — but there's beauty in the mess. 🌱 Read the full story on The Quiet Acre. #BeginnerGardener #SlowLiving #TheQuietAcre