Competitive Gardening

I recently was talking with a friend who is just beginning to garden in a community garden plot (which I LOVE) and apparently I over-shared and kind of scared her. Now she doesn't want to plant as much and I feel absolutely horrible.  I didn't mean to scare her.  I just was so excited and wanted to pass on all that I knew.   Sometimes I just get so excited and over-pet the cat (sweet Golden Girls reference).  So anyway, in trying to make up for this I come to find out that she is super competitive. She wants her garden to be better then the ones around her.   At first I scoffed at this notion.  "That's not what gardening is all about."  "Gardening should be peaceful and serene."  "One should know that gardening (and life) are a journey."

But wait....perhaps I was being a judgey gardener.  I mean all of those things are what I love about gardening, but that doesn't have to be the case for other people.  I suppose we all have different reasons for gardening and why shouldn't having the best garden be a reason.   So I say good for you my friend and I hope that your garden is successful and beautiful, and that there are many lessons learned and just know....MY GARDEN IS BETTER!!!!!!

PS here is a funny in honor of competitive gardening