Leaves Have A Seasonal Message
Leaves speak to us in a quiet manner. Coming in many different shapes and sizes, leaves are one of nature’s gifts to the garden. Observing leaves can enlighten us on ways to reflect upon our life’s journey. In one of my horticultural communities, Plantrama.com, C.L. Fornari and Ellen Zachos are sharing the leaf stack challenge. Gathering leaves of interest and stacking them in a way that speaks to us and then posting the photo of the leaf stack online. While adding fun during this transitional season, participating also makes us pause.
OBSERVE
While gathering leaves at the break of dawn, I realized that leaves mimic our life experiences. I gathered my findings while a gentle rain fell, in the dark of the early morning. I am familiar with the terrain of my garden even with my eyes closed. A lesson in having faith in my footsteps, courtesy of my Dad’s Life lessons. I realized that leaves are very similar to the moments that create our lives.
REFLECT
While arranging my leaf stack, a few still glistened from the gentle rain, like a refreshing memory. Some of them had begun the metamorphosis into dormancy (Hosta, Hydrangea, Maple), like nesting during the winter. One leaf I turned over ( begonia) to show its beautiful red veins – turning over a new leaf can of times show our true beauty – in the midst of a struggle.
There are also a few leaves that look fresh. Not bothered by the unpleasantness or incidences incurred in life (Hellebore, Impomea or Sweet Potato Vine). The Sweet Potato vine had been lunch for a hungry groundhog just as it became a lush ground cover, spilling over the sides in my planter. You would never know that its growth had been nipped at the stems at the beginning of summer. Now, as the season draws to a close, the lush foliage is on the rebound. How many times have we been at the top of our games and we suffer a set-back?
The Hellebore leaf is a gentle symbol of hope. With its solid green jagged edged leaf, the Hellebore will share unanticipated beauty mid winter. The Hellebore will bloom mid winter. In the midst of a bleak, usually less colorful time of the year, fresh, vibrant blooms will evolve. Shades of burgundy, black, pink, and ivory elegant blossoms show up in spite of the weather. These leaves reflect moments in our lives where we need to have hope. Hope that the bright spot will arrive at just the proper time during difficult moments.
GATHER
Look, reflect and consider gathering a bit of nature. Take a walk, forest bathe, or go into your garden to gather a few leaves that speak to you. Stack them or put them in a vase and reflect upon them. Have a mindful moment reflecting upon your journey and joyfully anticipate what lies ahead.
Refresh, Restore, Resume
Refresh, restore and resume has been the theme of my 2018. As I age, I am listening to my body, as well as my Elders. The things I used to do, are done a bit differently now. Refreshing my mindset on what I want to do took center stage over everything else. I actually hired garden assistance to clear underbrush in my woodland area. I have never trusted anyone to lay hands on my garden, except for me. Afterall, who would know the terrain, the journey of each plant and how to love them, except for me?
Restoring my faith in mankind, trusting that everything happens for a reason and feeding my soul has been educational. A learning experience even if I thought I understood. The assistance in my garden came at a time when I really needed to turn off negative energy and seek positive interaction. Two guys clearing and making a huge difference in an evening, returning to finish the job, another day. If I had taken this task on, it would have taken me a lot longer and my energy zapped by overdoing it. Help is a good thing and knowing when to ask, is even smarter.
Initially overwhelming, this year has been quite interesting. To be quiet, be still, as my Dad would say, was a way to find my inner garden again. Taking time to refresh my inner spirit by traveling, taking time for me, as well as restoring my faith, was necessary. I can now resume creatively finding all things beautiful…everywhere!
Meanwhile in Porto by way of Paris, I am present…
Perspectives – Healing Gardens
Healing Gardens are the topic of a terrific article in Landscape Architecture Magazine. Mind, Soul, Design focuses on the concept of designing gardens for healing. Virginia Burt, FASLA was seeking more depth and meaning to this topic. Landscaping that incorporated functionality to help healthy human interaction was something that captured her attention. Healing gardens aid us in the processing of the less than palatable things in life. A garden designed with purpose can certainly help heal what derails our joy. Already working with this mindset, Virginia’s design work is considered to have a sort of “emotional intelligence”.
Virginia Burt’s work has been celebrated by receiving numerous awards such as the 2017 National Award of Excellence by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, 2017 Honor Award by the Ohio Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects, the 2017 Presidents Award by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects and the 2017 Acanthus Award by the Chicago-Midwest and Ohio Lake Erie Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, to name a few.
Paying attention to the finer points of how our gardens affect us has allowed Virginia to successfully create healing gardens. While all gardens are healing gardens, she has and continues to practice and support the research which embraces this theory. The concept of functionality in the garden is key. All parts must work or it is just a pretty design, without purpose. Even when the plants are decided for a design, Virginia has been known to be a zone pusher. Making sure that any plant chosen can not just survive, but will thrive in less than suitable conditions.
I love Virginia’s concept that nonfunctional beauty in the garden, is just good. The real beauty of the garden is discovered when it has a proven function. Virginia Burt understands the importance of how gardens should be designed to include not just people, but art and nature as well. I hope to possibly visit some of the gardens designed by Virginia Burt in the future. To find out more about the work of Virginia Burt, click here.
Looking forward to discovering more women in Landscape, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, and Design as I celebrate Women’s History Month!
Inner Gardening with Black Panther
Long overdue, the movie ” Black Panther” was a delight to see. Recalling the tidbit of a preview shared at Blogalicious last year, I knew I wanted to see this movie. What I did not realize at the time, was how much the messaging would resonate to the world as we know it today.
I eat, breathe and sleep gardening. Seeing the beautiful land called Wakanda simply took my breath away. Fiction can always make mediocre things look phenomenal. Wakanda, however was not mediocre at all. It was a self-sustaining community that had not been colonized. Considered a small, backwards farming community, Wakanda was not on the radar of the outside world. This was the blessing that sustained its beauty. From the lush forests, mountains, magnificent waterfalls and beautiful people, Wakanda was naturally a beautiful land. The rituals that took place in the water to the beautiful heart-shaped plants, Wakanda was genuinely a place to dream about.
When Erik Killmonger became a force to be reckoned with, one of the first things he did was destroy life. Erik ordered the destruction of the heart-shaped plants that caressed
the vibranium. This heart-shaped plant was a herb that when properly prepared, allowed only those of royal blood to partake. Drinking this herbal concoction, allowed the person to transition and get advice from the ancestors who had passed on. It also provided strength to the recipient for the return journey back to earth.
In today’s world, as development razes older communities or breaks new ground, one of the first acts is removal of vegetation. Stripping the gifts of Mother Nature, to start with a clean slate. Is it replaced? Minimally, in most cases. The symbolism of this act in the Black Panther movie has stuck with me. When change presents itself, why is it easier to get rid of the unfamiliar?
What about integrating the old into new concepts? I could easily compare this to preparing pots for a new season. Should we dump all of the soil out and start with nothing ? Is it possible to mix in a little fresh soil to enhance the old? Is the old soil totally lifeless…or can it be revived?
All of the imagery was not positive. Just like in the garden, if you leave behind diseased foliage, it will cause problems in the garden. Killmonger was left behind by his uncle, which led him to feel unloved and unwanted. We must stop leaving behind things to haunt our existence as we plant seeds of positivity in our life gardens. Usually there is a way, preferably organic, to address and catch negativity before it becomes a problem.
There was other messaging such as the ability for this community to thrive, without outside influence. There were beautiful fabrics, wonderful market scenes and honestly, the people appeared to be happy.
The messaging in the Black Panther movie was subliminal, but caught up with the viewer after the show. The conversations about the Black Panther will continue for some time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I will see it again. I must say, it was quite refreshing to see a movie depicting Africa Americans with a positive ending and a willingness to share. We can create our own version of Wakanda by planting seeds of love, knowledge, prosperity, and by making sure that no one is left behind as we pursue success in this world.
Wakanda Forever…if only in my dreams…