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Perspective of a Beautiful Day…..

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199834423005E8B2BC.pngPerspective……keep it all in perspective.  This is something that has been etched in my brain and heart from the mouth of Frank Laval, Owner of the Solar Hotel in Paris France (http://www.solarhotel.fr/en/) I am certain that Frank, as well as the rest of us environmentally aware folks, are happy about the  Climate Change Agreement.   After all, it may not be perfect, but it is certainly a matter of perspective and better than nothing at all.

Perspective has been on my mind today. How we view things, places, people, beliefs. In the Cambridge English Dictionary, perspective is defined as a particular way of considering something.  While this is a very broad definition, it encompasses that small word which opens the door to perspective – HOW.

HOW is it that the world seems to be a very angry place right now?

HOW is it that people are speaking of things that we thought were put in the past?

HOW is it that people seem to think that misdeeds can be validated…to some…and all will be okay?

HOW is it that being mindful is not considered the norm? Manners remembered or practiced???

HOW can we allow others to say words that intentionally hurt or bully?

HOW have we allowed the world to change US???

Perspective is HOW.  That happy, happy, joy, joy mentality that I still and will continue to carry within, has been stolen from some and denied by others.  HOW did we allow this to happen???  Growing up, becoming non-flexible in our pursuit of “perfect happiness” created pressure and undue stress.  Sad, so sad but true.  Each one of us has to figure out who or what made our perspective change.  Each one of us also has the capability to change our perspective, to fit who we are today.

Last week was the busiest that I have been with events in quite a while. So busy that I did not really have time to connect, spend any quality time with myself or my dog as everything had to be done within a “reasonable time”.  I sat in my Studio the entire weekend, creating succulent plantings as takeaways for a Corporate event. I was calm, it was peaceful, my creative juices were flowing and I was truly enjoying the moment. Time did not matter and I was at peace. I seized every second of every minute and truly enjoyed the experience.

Monday came. All that calm went right out the window as I drove to work, anticipating what a week it was going to be. It was going to be a ridiculously busy week, I prepared for this week mentally since returning from France, I wanted my event to be perfect, I wanted the events I had to attend to be fruitful as I networked and I had to proofread two book reviews that I had written and submit them on time…..oh, I also had to show up to work on time. Friday after the events of the week were all over, I was totally zapped. All I could do was be quiet. The worse part of it was I did not get to venture into my garden at all last week.

My garden, the place I venture into daily – no matter the weather, no matter the time of the day or evening. It is what I do to center myself.  As adults, we do things so that our lives are “as perfect as possible”, in our minds eye. What a silly way to live LIFE. My self-conceived perception…everything has to go smoothly, there should be no complaints and be all has to be as close to perfect as possible….oh the pains of thinking  like an adult. I prefer to no dismiss and not accept this mindset…it does not work for me.1377900788045On this beautiful day, join me in having a different perspective on things. Enjoy the rain, be a little late for work sometimes, have a walking meeting…in a park, laugh when things might not be perfectly executed, take on a childlike amazement of all things, travel and most importantly, find the beauty in all things.  I love me better when I have this perspective…try it sometimes…especially NOW!

(P.S. – Turn off the TV….listen to some music..re-discover reading…there is so much beauty and joy that surrounds us, there is no need to embrace another person’s perspective of what THEY think we need to know)

Sharing……..

Teri

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Sumac, Sassafras and Sycamore…such seasonal delights!!!

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I have had this little ditty on the tip of my tongue all weekend.  Sumac, sassafras and sycamore…..it should be a song on Sesame Street or a tune for gardening on ITunes, however why did I choose these three as I embraced the trees just showing off their autumnal attire???  Each of these trees gives us MORE than just fall color. They give back to nature and add to the beauty of every season.

Sumac started catching my eye a few weeks ago when the foliage started changing colors.  Rhus glabra and Rhus aromatica are among the list of native plants that provide for our pollinators in the winter.20151025_083324

Sumac can form thickets in naturalistic settings which also helps wildlife during the winter months. The Xerces Society also states that this is a larval host plant for the Hairstreak butterfly. It is a native species in 48 states.

Another native, is one that I remember my Mom identifying the leaves as a familiar part of her youth. When I purchased my first home in Virginia, my Mom pointed out that I had a Sassafras tree.  My Mom remembers drinking tea, made from the root and drinking a sweet root beer type drink she called Sasparilla with her grandparents.  Culturally, this was a common practice in her family especially when one had a bad cold.  The leaves are also commonly used as a seasoning known as “file”, a necessary ingredient for creole cooking. One could also make a toothbrush out of a twig that had been flattened and frayed.  Once Safrole oil, produced by the Sassafras tree was found to be poisonous to rodents, Sassafras was banned for use in mass produced foods and drugs in 1960.  I often wonder if Native Americans could use it responsibly, perhaps if we responsibly used this native plant, we could be tasting real root beer today. IMG_4128

Usually Sassafras albidum trees are found in fields, along fencelines and sometimes on the grounds where old homes once stood. The leaves and twigs emit a citrus like scent when they are bruised.  The leaf shape is usually referred to as mitten like.  Birds and mammals usually eat the leaves, bark, stems and fruits.  Deer and black bears love this tree and rabbits are known to partake of its bark as well. The fruits are enjoyed by many, many birds from Northern mockingbirds, gray catbirds to wild turkey’s, to  name a few. The fall color, along with the leaf shape makes this tree identifiable by the kaleidoscope colors this time of the year.  I have seen these fresh green leaves turn deep orange, red, a pinkish hue, deep purple to yellow.  Such a gift in the garden….but I will pass on making the tea….unless I find a good recipe!

This leaves me with the Sycamore, also known as Platanus occidentalis. A very large tree that tends to grow along streams, or wetlands.  I have seen  them used as street trees and Sycamore trees stick out at any time of the year by their interesting bark.  Even after the leaves quickly turn brown and drop, the bark  peels off in large flakes, leaveing quite an artistic appearance to the trunk of this native tree.  The flowers form a tight cluster  shaped like a ball called Achenes.  In fact, they were even used as buttons in Colonial days due to their firmness and are sometimes known as buttonball trees. The fruits or seed balls are light weight and easily spread by wildlife, as well as the wind. Sycamores grow and play nicely when you see Silver Maples, Yellow Poplar trees, Sweet gum and Black Willow trees.  sycamore tree

The wildlife that can usually be found enjoying this native tree range anywhere from Gray squirrels, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches to Muskrats. Wood ducks have even been know to use them as homes when these majestic beauties age.  An old Sycamore can become hollow in the middle….I can just hear the woodpeckers pecking for those insects now!!! I wonder if they hum as well??

I hope that I have shown you how communing with nature can create a song in your heart that lingers in your mind.   As I continue to embrace the awesome beauty of the colors natures gifts us with each fall, I will continue to hum or sing…and always share.

 

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Second Chance Gardening

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How many of us failed to have the optimum, drop dead gorgeous, high yielding garden this year??? It had to be someone other than me!!!  Well thank goodness the summer is slowly fading away and I have another chance at growing some goodness in my garden.  The deer enjoyed every single squash blossom they could – that was all of them. Amenia barked at them from inside, but they knew she could not get to them.  I think they used my backyard veggie corner as a place to pause before venturing in some other neighbors yard. I am not giving up however.

I stopped at the Wentworth Nursery, Inc. in Prince Frederick, Maryland as I wandered the Maryland countryside yesterday (http://www.WentworthNursery.com). This is a beautiful and tastefully appointed garden center that offers gorgeously healthy butterfly bushes, butterfly boxes, Blossoms Bee Habitat, Bee Balm, Hummingbird feeders and of course Butterfly weed, among other things.  I think they are serious about getting their clientele excited about gardening for birds, bees and butterflies!!! (I have to go back and get a Blossoms Bee Habitat…they were quite cool!!) Of course, I can’t pass a garden center twice and I am glad I take this rule seriously.

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When I think of a second season in my edible garden, I think about the things I really want to have as a part of my diet.  I LOVE beets, so I picked up a packet of ‘Bulls Blood’ beet seedlings – just to get a head start.  I can share these with my Dad. Despite the name, I love the sweet roots, if harvested small and the beautiful burgundy leaves can be harvested for salad greens as well.

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I also picked up a pack of Pak Choi. This cultivar is called ‘Toy Chop’…topping out at 5 inches tall, it is quick-growing and requires minimal cooking time. I am dreaming of this in my stir fry now with some nantes carrots, mushrooms ..mmmm….

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I had to pick up a few all time favorites like ‘Vates” Kale, Collards and ‘Jade Cross’ Brussel Sprouts.  What would my winter be without these necessary comfort foods?  When the frost hits the leaves of the mature plants, I will be the hit of my neighborhood.  I hope the Brussel sprouts will be the highlight of my Christmas dinner…they will be good and sweet by then for sure.

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Cooler temps allow the edible garden to take on a new face.  Utilizing seeds of Corn salad, mache, Tyee F1 spinach, gourmet blend beets, Italian Lacinto Kale, Speckled Butterhead Lettuce, Healthy Kale Mix and of course Paris Market Mix Baby Mesclun Salad (just to name a few), can add excitement while you count the weekends of leaf raking that will soon be upon us.

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Try something new.  Consider utilizing portable containers for  your salad greens particularly.  There is  nothing more visibly refreshing than a pot of salad greens in all hues and textures mixed with some pansies in window boxes or in a recycled planter.  Root Pouch makes a beautiful portable planter from recycled plastic water bottles. They feel like felt and come in different sizes and garden neutral colors. The other advantage of containers is their portability.  If the weather gets too bad, I can move these into the unheated greenhouse, garden room or cool sun room during the winter months.

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I also use the Smart Pot for my larger greens like Chard and the taller Bok Choi.  I grew celery in a smaller Smart Pot and it was quite productive. Grow celery if you can.  It will change the way you think of celery. Grown at home, you will  never look at celery the same way again in the grocery store!! With a smear of chunky peanut butter….well, I meant to freeze some, but it never made it to that process.

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Fertilizing is  important, particularly for those plants that are quickly harvested.  Last year I used Annie Haven Authentic Haven Brand Manure Tea.  It is truly Awesome Annie!!!  I purchased a gift pak (for me, of course) and I sparingly used it because I could not believe how beautiful my veggies looked, how scrumptious they tasted and how effortlessly they grew NATURALLY!!! I think I will have to order some more to get me through this second season.

Are you ready for your second season?? Have you ordered your garlic and shallots yet??? I will be ordering mine from Southern Seed Exchange, as they have yet to fail me for tasteful shallots and garlic!!! For those if us who no longer have to invest in school clothing for the little ones, invest in your health and create something beautiful as well as edible for your second season in the garden.

BTW – if you know of a child or family in need donate a backpack, school supplies and then teach them how to garden.  It is the right thing to do!!!

TJS

 

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Beauty Found…it’s been a long week…

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I don’t have to revisit the events of this week. It will dilute my personal message of peace, joy, hapiness and love. 

On a personal level, I almost allowed an outside entity to steal my joy. I was and have not been myself out of fear, hurt, anger, distrust and discomfort that events have put in my sphere of hapiness.

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Today however I had to say to myself, aren’t you that one that promotes never, NEVER, allowing others to steal your joy? Why are you not being true to self?
Leela James sings this particular song about Joy with such heartfelt emotion. I had to play it……repeatedly and get around my heartache.

The garden is my place of peace in this world.  No matter the failures or the successes. My garden feeds my soul as it demonstrates how plants can weave together and form a tapestry. This work of art is original and unique to the gardener or artist of nature that cultivates the canvas and shares it with passersby.

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This morning I did not walk through my garden as many of us walk through life, ignoring what is REALLY around us. I paused and once again, I found my peace in the beauty that surrounds me daily, as I am the artist, cultivating my personal canvas….

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#garden365, #saytheirnames, #allthingsbeautiful, #gardenadventures,
#mourningcharleston,#wespeaktheirnames, #wearebetterthanthis

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