When gardening, one is usually faced with similar obstacles no matter where your garden is. There are weeds. There are places where a lush flower once stood. There are spots that are sodden, and not far from that area, places are dry as well, yes…dirt.

But today’s garden jaunt became a bit of a game. I didn’t have my hands wrapped around a controller, it was just the garden and a few handheld weeding tools. Even though there were no sound effects or achievements being unlocked, there was a mental winning game. Amid the plants I knew well, because I spent plenty of time around them last year, I was picking my way through them. Trowel in hand, I discovered two things. Plants had reseeded themselves and I was discovering new, tiny little plants just barely pushing through the soil. Others, sprouting new shoots off runners of the same plant. And it became as thrilling as going past a level in a video game and feeling that rush of accomplishment.

A few small green-leaved wonders, some no bigger than a quarter, were nestled under the now barren branches of woody perennials. Easter eggs in the garden! Safe for now, but a few weeks from now, they would be shaded out and eventually succumb to darkness. A new challenge perhaps? Accepted! 

The best kind, the kind you discover and feel like you struck gold. Those small sprouts needed a quick transplant. For the amount I found, and the amount I placed gingerly in their new home, I could have earned a badge for my continued success in the gamified garden. 

That’s the probably the biggest motivator to get out there an weed in the native plant garden for me. When you get down to it, a mundane task of fighting off some unwanted weeds like stilt grass or chickweed becomes a treasure hunt. You find magic in the garden. The real clutch happens though, a few weeks down the road, when those small sprouts have grown into full fledged plants and you find yourself checking their progress often. I’ll “Be Right Back”. I have to check my game…I mean, my garden.