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Celosia – Purposefully Pink In The Garden

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Celosia is an annual with benefits that bring joy to those who include it in their gardens.

Imagine finding a pink Celosia in the garden in October, a month where we honor cancer survivors. When I noticed this bloom, my imagination saw a flamenco dancer. A beautiful bloom, ready to dance and raise her skirt, twirling about with glee. We know the journey is not easy, but Celosia says it all in a single bloom.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Did you know that about 279, 000 people – not just women – will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer? It is estimated that there will be approximately 42,690 deaths from breast cancer alone. The statistics for other cancers are just as dismal. Survival is achievable with support from friends and family…in addition to more research. To find more statistical details on how cancer affects all of us, click here.

HIGHS AND LOWS

Like the soft ruffles of the Celosia, there are many ups and downs all along the journey.

Most survivors will tell you that there are those days when hope is nowhere to be found. The high and lows along the way can be minimize with love and support from family and friends. As a survivor of this disease, there is a knowing of how difficult each day can be. Yet, survivors can celebrate how it CAN be overcome.

SEEDS OF HOPE

Celosia blooms hold an abundance of seeds.

As you can see, the bloom of the Celosia holds many seeds. I like to think that the seeds are simply seeds of hope. Hope that this disease can be caught earlier, with more research there is cure, and hope that the rate of survival increases.

UNEXPECTED BENEFITS

Imagine adding Celosia to a meal that will add iron, calcium, and more.

In my zone 6b garden, Celosia is considered an annual. It offers a beautiful late season bloom that takes beauty in the garden up to frost. This plant hails from countries like Africa, Asia, and India. It also has many names like brain flower, wool flower, and more.

In China, it might be referred to as ‘chi kuan’. Nigeria knows this plant as an edible and it is commonly called ‘Soko”. As an edible, the leaves, stems, and even the flower spikes can be utilized for nourishment. Imagine a delicious stew with a few colorful blooms tossed in.

This plant symbolizes affection, silliness, and joy. Including a few stems in flower arrangements for giving seems appropriate. Creating an arrangement with Celosia will provide long-lasting beauty for 5 or more days. Another way to extend the show is to air dry them. These blooms tend to hold onto their color, velvety texture, and form which can cause quite a stir in a vase. As they are fragrance-free, adding this beautiful bloom to almost any arrangement would bring a smile to anyone’s day.

CELOSIA FOR A CAUSE

Celosia celebrates Breast Cancer Month with a bloom that dances in support of the survivors!

Celebrating the ups and downs of healing, appreciating the benefits along the way, and the joy of survival, are reflected in the Celosia bloom. Like a flamenco dancer, Celosia dances and celebrates our cancer survivors!

Have you had a mamogram this year? Are you celebrating survival?

Honoring all of those I know that have survived this disease, mourning those we have lost, and praying for more research so we bid good riddance to cancer!

Miss you Lexi…

Reflecting,

Teri, Cottage In The Court

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Kaleidoscopes of Color in Autumn

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Kaleidoscopes of color are found almost anywhere at this time of the year.

As I embrace the beginning of a new season, the colors I observe are amazing. Reminding me of looking into a seasonal kaleidoscope that amazes and makes me pause. I bend to retrieve any leaf that makes the words “oh my…that is beautiful”, fall from my lips. Gently tucking them into my pocket, it is a way of capturing the moment. You see, tomorrow, the leaf color will change. The seasonal kaleidoscopes are all around us if we just open our eyes along the way.

The first kaleidoscope of colors that I tucked into my sweatshirt pocket. We always remember our firsts, right?

One early morning, as I visited Montpelier just after daybreak, the colors just popped. In amazement, certain trees stood out to fluff their leaves as if to say “notice me…make this part of your memory”.

Montpelier’s trees decided they were going to show off first thing in the morning.

The wine-colored leaves were lifted into their glory by the patient trees in the background. Whether too early to begin a colorful show or an evergreen, each tree will have their turn on nature’s stage.

The trees at Montpelier were in different stages of fall displays of seasonal bliss.

No matter where I am, the kaleidoscope of fall is never too far behind. As I look outside my dining room window, the colors of the redbud are golden trinkets, falling to enrich the soil below.

Golden leaves of the Cercus Canadensis gently release to add nutrients to the ground below.

A Yoshino Cherry tree gives me a reason to smile. It shines with golden leaves that drip, one by one, into the garden. Imagine a necklace has broken and each bauble dropping in slow motion. What a beautiful addition to my compost these leaves will become.

Kaleidoscopes can change with the twist of the wrist. I can look at this Yoshino in the morning and by evening, it has a totally different hue.

As I stroll in my garden, the Hydrangea quercifolia stops me in my tracks. The kaleidoscope on this shrub changes each day that adds excitement with each glance. Is it the wine in the leaves? Could it be the amber as it evolves like a flame throughout the shrub? I cannot answer honestly these questions. With each leaf I see, my mind changes moment by moment.

Hydrangea quercifolia can make me pause in amazement with it’s colorful display.

As I continue to collect moments to include in my kaleidoscopes of color, imagining how many combinations to include, simply bring me joy.

Do the kaleidoscopes of color found along the way add to your autumn experiences in nature? Do you collect leaves to capture the unique memories of autumnal bliss?

This week’s colorful capture from walks embracing nature.

Gathering moments along the way…

Teri, Cottage In The Court

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Joy Found In The Garden

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Joy found in the garden has so many forms. Even if they are simply the flowers found along the creek that runs through my community.

JOY IN THE MORNING

Daily Joy is what I would call my morning walk. Most days, I have the opportunity to walk at daybreak to greet the day. Observing what new gift nature has placed along my path. I cannot properly describe how much I anticipate the daily gifts which are revealed as the day begins to unfold.

Gathering some of the gifts along the way, allow me to create a memory of the morning stroll. These random blooms, buds, and leaves capture the days moments that bring me joy. I gather just enough to create a small bouquet. Sometimes, I just admire these gifts from afar, hoping that they will greet me the next day.

Planned autumn joy in the form of Tartarian Aster. I never noticed the blooms until this year.

My garden also brings me daily joy. I planted this Tartarian Aster in a 4-inch pot a few years ago. I would always notice the foliage increasing in girth, but never noticed the blooms. As we endure this moment of unintentional pausing, I noticed more than just the blooms. Monarchs and other pollinators pause and create quite a noticeable stir. I sit back and watch in amazement.

A white eggplant peeks through the foliage, letting me know that the season is not quite over.

I noticed an eggplant, tucked in a pot, and left to grow with total abandon. No fertilizer, no supplemental watering, and yet, the tenth eggplant of the season was growing quite well. I remembered the string bean experiment. Two five-gallon buckets with soil and planted with seeds of string beans were overflowing with foliage. I checked daily for a pod or two and then simply left them alone.

Planted in late August, I did not expect to harvest any beans, however it was worth a try.

Much to my surprise, I harvested seven from one bucket and five from the other. Talk about unexpected daily joy! I am not ready for my summer fun to end, so I will leave the beans alone, check them at least once a week until frost.

One thing I have realized as I gardened this summer and as I visited gardens that have been understaffed as well. Sometimes, we just need to leave the garden alone. The unkempt garden whether on purpose or by accident can bring unexpected joy. Allowing the garden to just be, also gives us the opportunity to revel in the naturalness of the garden. I am not suggesting that anyone give in to the weeds. However, letting go of perfection in the garden just might be the ‘thing’ to bring you joy. A weed is merely a plant out of place. Are you taking the time to pause and allow the garden to bring you joy or are you on eternal weed patrol?

While finding a place to sit in my garden, I peered into the canopy of the trees and noticed the purple berries of the Callicarpa. The joy that filled my heart upon seeing this unexpected gift was amazing.

I love hearing about the joy that the garden shares. The sound of joy in my sister’s voice, as she shares the excitement of seeing a butterfly. The abundance of life embracing her from her garden is such a gift. The butterflies presented quite the show as she ate her lunch outside.

My sister is a new Gardener. The garden has helped heal her sorrow after being the primary caretaker for my parents. I look at it as a gift from my parents, knowing she would need something to occupy her mind. After the loss of her husband this past Spring, she became quiet and I worried. I advised her to go into the garden…no one sees your tears there. She did. The daisies were 5 feet tall – seriously taller than her – the mums bloomed early (that was Dad…lol) and she TRULY doesn’t need another Hydrangea…for REAL! The joy of hearing about her garden experiences and how she is “finished”, not ordering any more plants, make me laugh. She has said she was finished for the past three years. Most seasoned gardeners know…the garden is never finished.

WHAT THE GARDEN SHARES

The garden keeps all of our secrets, it is the best confidant ever. Sit in the garden from time ..pause and observe the life found in the garden daily, if you can.

The garden is powerful. It can distract us with surprises from the tiniest bloom, a colorful bug, to finding an empty space that needs a plant.

The garden is a healer in so many ways. However, if you don’t visit the garden to enjoy it, you will never realize it’s power.

There is so much that we can learn from the garden. Are YOU open to learning the benefits of the garden? Have you realized the joy found in the garden?

Even with the sedum showing signs of nibbling, the Tartarian Aster rises above it.

Wandering aimlessly, looking for more gifts that bring me joy in the garden!

Teri – Cottage In The Court

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Maryland – Banneker, Mead, and Pollinators

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Maryland is home to a mostly self educated Free man. Benjamin Banneker was not just a Surveyor, but an entrepreneur. Truly a man before his time.

Maryland offers agricultural gifts that many are not familiar with. I had the pleasure of exploring Maryland as a tourist, as I unintentionally paused. Donning my mask I signed up for two programs at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park. There’s a lot of information on Benjamin Banneker, not commonly shared. A gardener, beekeeper, astronomer, and entrepreneur, Benjamin Banneker was quite a guy. Did you know Benjamin was born Free and was mostly self-educated?

The original boundary stones of Washington, DC. Benjamin Banneker played a role in the survey team that defined the perimeters of our Nations Capitol.

I can’t stop smiling as I write this. A self-educated free man who was a stargazer was a part of the survey team of Pierre L’Enfant. This team surveyed Washington, DC in 1791. Mr. Banneker was considered a friend of Thomas Jefferson. They corresponded frequently about many things.

MARYLAND MEAD

One of the Programs I attended was a lecture on Mead. It was at this program I learned that Benjamin Banneker was a gardener. Benjamin grew things to enhance his ability to be a good farmer and beekeeper. He would harvest the honey and take it to market. His Mead was produced from his bees – what a terrific entrepreneur!

Chase Louden inside the replica of the Benjamin Banneker Homestead. The original Homestead burned down on the day of Mr. Banneer’s funeral.

The first program I attended shared tales of Banneker’s beekeeping. Chase Louden, Anthropology & History Major at UMBC, and McNair Scholar gave a demonstration detailing how Mead was made in the 1700s.

Properly distanced, Chase Louden shared quite a bit of information on Banneker as a beekeeper and entrepreneur.

Chase made a batch of Mead. He explained how it was cooked over a fire. The enthusiasm truly showed as Chase shared a few facts about Mead, Mr. Banneker, and the Oella area. It was great to see a young man who realized how awesome Mr. Banneker was.

BANNEKER AND BEES

Clare Walker provided an informative session on Maryland bees.

I had to return the next day to see the pollinator garden and learn about Maryland’s bees. The number of native bees in Maryland has declined. This is a reason we really need to grow for the pollinators. Claire shared how to identify bees in the landscape. She shared information on the native species commonly seen.

We walked through and identified the plants found in the garden. Mountain Mint was one of the reasons the bees were all a buzz as they welcomed me to the garden.

Clare had little cubes to capture bees for up-close and personal identification. After identification, each bee was released. They happily went on their way. I can now officially identify a carpenter bee. It has a shiny rear. Clare was quite informative and showed no fear. She shared with me a very important fact about pollinator bees. The bees are not interested in humans. We should “Let the Bee’s Be”! They have a job to do. What a big job it is!!

The Honey Bee Production facility at the Banneker Historical Park. It was definitely humming like a song in nature.

If you have never been to the Banneker Historical Park, it is worthy of a drive.

Look at the programs offered at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park. It will be worth the drive. Imagine the opportunity to be a local and a tourist!

Remembering the pollinators at the Banneker Historical Park….

Zinnias and butterflies on my mind…

Teri, Cottage In The Court

To find our more click here

To find out about Maryland Common Bees, click here

To find out about Maryland Tourism, click here

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Life Imitates the Garden – Cheer Up Mrs. Obama

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Life imitates the garden in so many ways. There are ups and downs, good seasons and bad. No matter what happens, we can find solace in the garden.

Dear Mrs. Obama,

Congratulations on your new podcast journey. It always helps to have a friend to talk things through, no matter the topic. I too have found my voice in podcasting. The joy it adds to life is amazing. I wish you much success n what could be considered a perennial journey.

I have listened to a few people who have expressed concern about your admission of feeling a little low and perhaps a tad depressed. Join the Club. Many of us feel the same way. Would many people actually admit it in public or to strangers? Probably not. It is sometimes easier to walk past our life weeds and act as if they do not exist.

LIFE – FLOW IN THE GARDEN

Life springs forth offering promises of floral bliss.

Spring brings thoughts of bulbs bursting through the soil, buds swelling on branches, and a fresh perspective after nesting season. Just as things are filling our minds with thoughts of the next, a hard freeze comes along. That is when we worry. Will the buds be damaged? Some wonder if the daffodils still open. Will the hydrangeas survive this last gasp of winter? Most plants will survive as they are strong. Other plants will suffer damage, yet this is a reality of the garden. Life in the garden comes with a lot of faith, a well as hope.

The anticipation of Mother’s day shopping for the unusual annual or specialty plant is a ritual. Adding new annuals and tropical plants to excite the gardener is a familiar practice nationwide. This year in my Zone 6b garden, I was not sure when it was safe to plant. The ground was too cold or too wet. The evening temperatures were a bit colder than normal. Some of us lost plants that typically would have been okay, as they were planted at the proper time…or so we thought. In the midst of unintentional pausing, we needed the joy of the garden. A pandemic threatened to interrupt the flow of the garden.

As our gardens peak, it signals us that the time has come o enjoy it as we entertain, pause, and simply let it be beautiful.

LIFE AS THE GARDEN PEAKS

Summer has now arrived in our gardens. If we have planted the right plants, it is overflowing with bodacious beauty. However, if we planted the right plant in the wrong place, we are experiencing gaps, plant failures, and disappointment. I am sure that many of us thought we would be able to vacation, enjoy gatherings with friends, and enjoy life as usual. With this new reality, we are experiencing, life as we knew it has certainly changed. In ways that were once unimaginable, our beautiful life garden has major weeds. These weeds are dragging our spirits into the muck and mire. This sobering reality has left many of us dragging our hopes and dreams to the compost bin. However, it is a known fact, Gardeners do not give up on our gardens.

Reading during this time of unintentional pausing gave me encouragement. If seeds are sown correctly, they will grow. The fruit harvested is worth the labor of planting. There are also some less than positive seeds. It is up to us to choose which seeds we sow.

SEASONAL TRANSITIONS IN LIFE

I want to invite you to read a book, American Grown The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America, by Michelle Obama. On page 165 there is a sentence. Allow me to share…

“Those first seeds we planted in our garden helped start a conversation that grew into a nationwide movement as people across this country united to address childhood obesity. And together, with determination and creativity, we have begun building the foundation for a healthier generation and a healthier nation.“

What we are going through might not be obesity, but the words apply to what has deposited into our life garden. You helped build the foundation. The seeds that were planted are the young people who showed up for the cause. Your words and positive imagery is the soil of the foundation. Soil enriched and fertilized with love, hope, and faith. It is the existing foundation for the new type of garden. A garden that is quite diverse. Although every garden has a weed or two.

Phytolacca americana, commonly known as pokeweed often invades the garden.

POKEWEED IN OUR LIFE GARDEN

Pokeweed is good at subtly growing amidst other plants in the garden. The garden might look lush and simply gorgeous. All of a sudden, the gardener realizes that it isn’t new growth next to the plant, but pokeweed. Rising from a dropped seed or roots left in the soil. This plant pops up beside almost anything, anywhere…imitating something we planted on purpose.

When gardeners realize that pokeweed leaves are a bit different and the growth a bit out of order, we take action. Do we snap it off at the top, only to allow the root to remain and resurface? Do we chemically treat it and hope we don’t kill other surrounding plants? Or do we dig deeply, aiming to eradicate as much root as possible?

As an avid gardener, I dig deeply – even though disturbing the soil just might bring up more weed seeds. Disrupting the soil to allow all the negative seedlings to expose themselves, reveals what is under the surface. The foundation of my garden should harbor seeds of positivity, beauty, and should provide joy. I can address what lies beneath the soil if I can see it and alleviate aggressive weeds before they grow deeper roots.

Yes…it makes me mad and downright sad to see the Pokeweed pop up here and there. Some days the weeds are overwhelming. Just when I think I have finished weeding my garden, I stand, gazing and admiring the beauty before me. Beside the hydrangea, standing, almost hiding behind a bloom, I see it. If I allow it to stay, drop its poisonous seeds, sink its roots, and become a bigger problem, it will continue to invade my garden. Pokeweed is not welcome in my garden.

Others find it beneficial, even attractive for wildlife. All parts of the Pokeweed plant are toxic. It is a source of food for wildlife, so it does serve a purpose. Perhaps in a meadow, but not in my pleasure garden. My garden consists of plants that bring me joy!

LIFE…EVER EVOLVING – LIKE THE GARDEN

Like the gardens at Chanticleer, our gardens are ever evolving.

Dear Mrs. Obama, I understand feeling low. It is all a part of life. Just like the garden, we have disappointments and sadness. We cannot allow the pokeweed in our midst to overrun and destroy our life garden. Can we do anything abut the seeds we cannot see? No. We can help uplift the seeds that have grown into strong, vocal plants in or current life landscape.

Sorry this was so long, but I just wanted you to know we are all emotionally at our wits end, but Fall is on our doorstep. I noticed this morning leaves dropping from the trees. Signals of change are in the air, in the garden and in the foundation of our life gardens. We are here to witness this garden of life change, as a new season is beginning.

From one gardener to another, when this world moves too fast, go into the garden. Perhaps go into the garden with friends. The garden is there for us…let’s embrace its imperfections. Let’s enjoy its diversity, fertilize it with self-care, and water it with love. It will need us in the next season. I have a sense, we will be quite busy.

Off to enjoy the garden with friends,

Teri, Cottage In The Court

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