I’ve always liked the American legend of Johnny Appleseed. The myth says that he strode across America randomly scattering apple seeds as he went. The truth is even better. His real name was John Chapman and, in the 1800s,  he actually planted nurseries of apple trees in several states, including Pennsylvania. He’d do it for free, wherever and whenever he felt like it. He’d give the nursery to someone else to profit from, but he’d come back every few years to tend it and give advice. He became a legend in his own lifetime; understandably so. What a lovely thing to do.

Every spring I wonder if we had our own version of Johnny Appleseed here in my fair state. All along the country roads, you can see rows and rows of wild rose bushes, interspersed with large clumps of white irises. Those plants aren’t native to South Australia, so they wouldn’t have sprung up on their own.

I picture a horticulturally inclined early settler, carrying his swag full of iris bulbs and rose cuttings, ambling across the countryside looking for choice spots to do some planting. What a blessing this has been to us. Someone, or some ones, have liberally spread some beauty around the countryside. Thank you Johnny Irisandroses guy!

There is a modern day version of this: Trees for Life. This wonderful band of volunteers plant trees and bushes all over the place, with the aim of regreening the landscape and providing safe corridors for birds and wildlife to move through. I think they’re champs; some of the unsung heroes in our community.

We can’t all hike across the countryside planting things. But, we can all randomly scatter the seeds of kindness, gentleness and grace wherever we go. Why not try surprising someone with an unexpected kindness. Smile at a stranger. It can be a sad, barren world for a lot of people but if everyone follows Johnny’s example and we all spread a little joy as we go, it could be a better place for all of us.