"It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe" - Robert W. Service
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Amazingly a variety of plants love sand!
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As I write this, I am at the beach and can hear the gentle
waves of Lake Michigan hit the sandy shores. The sun is hazy and the clouds are
like streaks in the light winds. Lake Michigan is no small lake. It’s huge and
can be ferocious. It’s always interesting to see the expression on visitor’s
faces because they are usually surprised by the size of the lake. The Great
Lakes are all interconnected and are one of the largest bodies of fresh water
in the world.
I’m fortunate to have grown up at my Mom’s cottage every
summer on the beach. I have seen the beach line come and go. Cottages have
fallen in because of the high waters. Then the water levels decreased and we
were next welcomed with mounds of sand and dunes abound. Did I mention that there’s
a lot of sand? When you stay at the beach you get accustomed to sand being everywhere
and soon find that it’s even OK to sleep in – you just can’t escape it!
One of my favorite and most dreaded parts of the beach is
the dune grass. It grows everywhere and literally dances in the North wind. I
remember as a child helping to plant it on our dune at the cottage to try to establish
the grass on the hill to help stop erosion. I also remember careless neighbors
accidentally starting the grass on fire and soon we were all rushing to put out
the entire hill that was enflamed. Beach
grass can literally help grow a dune with its deep roots and strong stems. It
also hurts like hell when you step on it with bare feet! Beach goers beware! Even
more impressive than the grasses is the number of plants that can actually grow
happily side by side next to the grass. As a gardener, it can be baffling at
times.
Sand is essentially large particles that are very solid
and differ from dirt in that they have no pockets where water and nutrients can
get stuck. No nutrients or water means that plants have to work harder for both
life sustaining substances. I have been amazed what sand gardeners can grow by
adding copious amounts of compost, some fertilizer, raised beds, and water.
Many plants will adapt. With water shortages all over the country we will all
need to adapt as well. Mother Nature is in many ways drawing a line in the sand
that we will all need to abide by – less water, adaptive plants.
Don’t despair if you have sand or even sandy soil. Some
plants love the fast drainage and once established they may need very little
water. I was surprised when our neighbor
at the lake planted Hydrangeas in the sand with some dirt and they flourished.
I thought that they would die within weeks and they easily flower with some
supplemental water. Below are some plants that appreciate sand. Check with your
local Extension program for more. Plants for Sand
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Rugosa Roses
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Cleome
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Yarrow
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Cosmos
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Eastern White Pine
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Red Cedar
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Ginkgo
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Pea shrub
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Witch Hazel
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Broom
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Smoke Tree
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Cactus
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Crape Myrtle
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Wild Irish Rose
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Quince
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Yucca
Be daring and look beyond the sand at what can be. With
some pre-work and planning you can draw a line in the sand and plant the garden
of your dreams. Don’t allow a grain of sand or two stop you.
"It draws a line in the sand. Once you cross it, you can't go back" - Greil Marcus
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Photo via Rowlandrose via Compfight.com |
Just as the lines in gardening can become blurred so too
can the lines at work. The other day a
friend and I were lamenting about when we joined banking as manager trainees
fresh out of college. The lines of authority (and dress!) were very strict and
obvious. You quickly knew your boundaries and were reminded almost weekly where
the line was that you had better not cross. The leadership style was “my way or
the highway” not to mention autocratic. Managers hung out with managers and the
trainees knew that we had better stick on our side of the room.
Things sure have changed. Leadership has become more servant and
collaborative focused. Managers are more human and show feelings. They share
the good and bad and it’s acceptable to be human. I love the new leadership
that we all benefit from now. It’s refreshing and real. People respect the
concept of leadership more and we all benefit from open cultures, positive
rapport, higher morale, and effective productivity. It beats the old days in
banking!
The new leadership has also confused things a bit as
well. Most managers are less autocratic and friendlier. They take an interest
in their teams. Many have forged strong relationships with their people. This
new style is progressive and enables people to come to work every day with a
more positive outlook and attitude. It also presents a dilemma for some
managers. How close is too close when interacting with your team? Where is the
ultimate line in the sand between being a manager and an office friend? How do
you avoid being friendly and open without being a “friend” or appearing to give
preferential treatment to certain members of your team? It’s tough.
Many of the traits that great leaders have mirror those
of your best friend. Consider the traits below and recognize those that are
your friendship gifts.
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Selfless and concerned for others. They enjoy
bringing the best out of others
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They are loyal , committed, and responsible
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Honest and upfront
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Trusting and open
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Equal
with give and take in a relationship
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Compassionate
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Uplifting and empowering
Does this sound like some of your best friendships? It
should! You can be a great leader with friendship characteristics. There are
some areas where you may need to drawn a line and keep your distance to remain
a strong and fair manager. Here are examples of where to draw the line:
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Redefine friendship across the board. It doesn’t
need to mean phone chats, drinks, and sharing secrets. The best friendships
include little to none of this!
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Don’t connect via social media other than on
LinkedIn
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Be transparent and realistic and always remain
in control and “the manager” in your mind
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Don’t become chat or bar buddies with any of
your team
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Remain social but draw the line when it becomes
more homebound or with a small group of people on your team, not everyone
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Never develop favoritism
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Don’t fake relationships or being a friend
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Remain confidential and closed mouth. Never give
in to temptation to share information that you shouldn’t
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Keep relationships clearly defined and even
keeled
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Be friendly but don’t be “the” friend
No one ever said that leadership would be easy. It
involves being an encourager, coach, confidant, teacher, and relationship
master. Be friendly, but always be careful not to cross the line. Have you ever
been in a situation where you crossed the line and realized it too late or
stirred the pot? I would love to hear from you!