I have attempted to grow cilantro during the summer but have yet to succeed.

Cilantro is one of my favorite herbs. It grows so well in my garden during the fall and winter, but when spring arrives, the cilantro in our garden tends to bolt.

Bolting is the term applied to vegetable crops when they prematurely run to seed, usually making them unusable. A cold spell or changes in day length initiates this behavior. It can affect a wide range of vegetables, including lettuce, spinach, and fennel. (Bloting in vegetables/rhs gardening)

Today, the cilantro seeds I planted at the beginning of fall have sprouted and look healthy. I hope to successfully grow a few cilantro plants that we can harvest from weekly until spring.

My experience with cilantro in the garden reminds me of knowing when it’s “Your” season. 

I think we all have times when we are not growing as quickly because we are simply discerning what we desire next in life, preparing for what is next, or healing from what we have experienced. 

I am not saying that seasons of growth can’t happen during preparation, during healing, or seasons of discernment. I just feel that expecting ourselves to show up and produce the brightest, most robust fruit in our lives every season is unrealistic and stops us from recovering. It also limits us from celebrating and uplifting others in their season. 

You may find yourself wondering if you will sprout, grow, reach your dreams, find love, get healthier, or get back to who you once were. But the reality is that there may be someone planted near you who just sprouted, who is growing, who just reached a dream, who fell in love, got healthier, or even found themselves again after losing themselves in life trials. They in my opinion are reminders that you will grow and can grow.

In the garden, we are encouraged to grow plants close to each other that help one another. The plant placements help prevent growth stunting bugs, support healthy root nutrients, and more. Like plants, you may have clues from others planted near you that every seed you plant takes time to grow. You may find your roots get healthier while near them in your season of rest. Yes, even the seeds of sincere celebration, affirmation, and love you sow into others while you rest will always come back to you when you begin to sprout and thrive in your season. You might even learn what to do and what not to do from someone else’s season who is planted near you.

The sun will shine your way when it’s time, and you will be more equipped with memories of celebrating others and easing into your season of rest. Being patient during your season of restoration is so important.

Imagine, if all of the cilantro seeds I planted in summer and spring were human and felt jaded by all the tall kale, greens, and herbs that took over their spot once they no longer produced leaves in the hotter months. 

I would like to hope that one of my favorite herbs, cilantro, realizes it is, by far, the star of every fall and winter dish. Even its bolting flowers, a sign it will no longer be fruitful, have been dried and framed in our home as a memory of one of our favorite herbs. We saved the flowers because they look beautiful, like baby’s breath flowers.

What if our nudges to slow down and restore before another season of growth were just as celebrated and acknowledged as our growth seasons. 

If we had cilantro in the garden every season, I doubt we would appreciate its taste and added freshness to dishes during the cold months. I doubt we would notice its beautiful flowers or celebrate it as often. 

May we know our season to grow, shine, rest, restore… and celebrate others.