My first official Emily-themed Amherst adventure was underway.
The Seeds of Love nursery was only two miles away, situated on a property speckled with goats, chickens, and sheep. I parked in the small lot and walked around a sprawling white farmhouse toward a series of greenhouses in back. Other shoppers pulled wagons with flats of flowers, mulch, and topsoil. Some carried baskets with bags of birdseed or succulents. All seemed delighted to be there.
I ventured into the first greenhouse and scanned the rows of leafy plants and fully bloomed flowers, unsure where to start. The cactus I’d had in college eventually turned brown and died. So when Annie gifted me a small succulent for my desk at home, I’d watered it dutifully for two months before she caught me and told me it was plastic. I wasn’t a plant lady. At least, not yet.
An older woman in denim overalls and red rubber boots smiled in my direction.
“Good morning,” I said, probably looking as lost as I felt.
She swung an empty basket onto the crook of one arm and headed my way. “Good morning. Can I help you find anything?” Her voice was soft and kind. Her heavily freckled skin tan from the sun. Defiant tendrils of long silver hair curled down from beneath the hat. “I’m Olivia Love. This is my nursery.”
I smiled, the name of her business sounding infinitely sweeter. “Emma,” I said. “I’d like to plant a small garden, but I’m only in town for six weeks. I’m not sure where to begin, or if it’s too late in the season.”
Olivia tipped her head over one shoulder, a pleasant expression on her rosy cheeks. “Absolutely not. In fact, September is prime planting time for a number of herbs, veggies, and flower bulbs. You won’t get the benefit of the bulbs until next spring, but planting them now would be like leaving a surprise, or a little gift, for whoever comes after you.”
I imagined a flower garden rising in the spring, where none had existed before, and what Grace would think of the blooms. Would she realize I’d planted them? Or see them as a sign of hope and love from the universe? Both possibilities warmed my heart. The idea of paying her back for the lifeline she’d unknowingly offered widened my smile. “I want to do that.”
“Let’s see what I’ve got.” Olivia led me to the next greenhouse, waving to shoppers and seeming to evaluate every plant we passed. “So, tell me, Emma. Why are you leaving so soon? Just changing residences in town, or is Amherst not for you?”
“I’m vacationing,” I said. “Hoping to reboot my life. Embrace the solitude and history while I’m here.”
She nodded. “Then you’ve come to the right place. But I have to warn you, life here can be addictive. We’ve got everything from farms to nightlife.”
“You do,” I agreed, loving the tone she used when speaking of her town. “I attended UMass as a commuter about twelve years ago,” I said. “I live and work in Willow Bend.” In some ways, being back in Amherst felt comfortable and familiar. Mostly, however, being in town as an adult, and at my leisure, was like seeing the place for the first time. Or at least through a different lens.
I dragged my fingertips over the fuzzy green leaves of a stout plant, admiring Olivia’s peaceful ease. I was on edge when I worked at the bookstore. Too many things to do and too little time to accomplish it all. Managing a busy store was exciting, but the burdens had erased my joy from the work. And though I was surrounded by people all day, I still felt lonely.
The clarity in those thoughts shook me a little. I’d never given myself time to think of how I really felt about my work. I enjoyed the busyness and satisfaction of a job well done, but I hadn’t actually enjoyed running the shop in a long time. I loved the customers, but they came for the books, not me. Not for the first time, I thought how nice it would be to have a dog to keep me company and greet customers. A big lug to lay around and make guests smile.
“I love plants,” Olivia said, returning me to the moment as we lingered in an aisle of small green sprouts. “I’m a third-generation farmer. My family has worked this land for a hundred and eighteen years. I think there might be fertilizer in my soul.”
I laughed and she winked. “I grew up surrounded by romance novels,” I said. “I was raised on Brontë and Austen instead of Dr. Seuss and Judy Blume. Though I got to those eventually. My parents can be snobs about literature.”
“They wanted to share their favorites with you. That’s how people are. We share what we love with the people we love.” She led me to a row of small potted plants. “I’ve got radishes, turnips, beets, and carrots already growing, which are perfect since you’re short on time. You can transfer these to your garden with some quality topsoil and keep your eyes on them. You’ll see produce in a few weeks, as long as you protect them from insects and animals.” She set a few pots into her basket. “Flowers like chrysanthemums, asters, and zinnias will be your friends right about now too. Just transfer them, same as the veggies. And we’ll grab a few bags of bulbs from the rack near the register.”
I followed her up and down the aisles. She made gardening sound simple and beautiful. A magical experience anyone could have.
I couldn’t wait to get started.
“Oh. I forgot to ask about your budget.” She turned to me with tented brows. “I get carried away.”
“It’s okay.” I waved a hand between us. “I budgeted for this.” And I’d kept an eye on everything she picked up. So far, nothing came close to breaking the bank.
Her shoulders drooped in relief.
“I appreciate the thought,” I said. “Plus, I feel as if I’m getting a free degree in horticulture just listening to you.”
She blushed slightly as she headed toward a cash register. “If you have any questions when you get home, just let me know. My contact information is on our website, so you won’t have to drive all the way back here.”
“I appreciate that, but I’m only a couple of miles away, and the place I’m renting doesn’t have Wi-Fi, so you might wind up seeing a lot of me.”
Olivia finished the transaction with a curious look in her eyes. “You’re not the guest at Hearthstone Manor, are you?”
“I am.”
She looked delighted. “Grace Forsythe is one of my oldest and dearest friends. She mentioned meeting you a few months ago when you picked up some books for a wedding.”
“My parents’ vow renewal,” I said. “I wish I could’ve spoken with her a little longer that day, but there was a line at her register, and I had to hurry home to relieve my folks at our store. I hope she didn’t think I was rude for racing away.”
