Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

This first week of January 2013, M prepared and I planted our winter crops.

For the most part, we moved to this old house back in ’97 because of the amount of land it sat on and how it privately and discreetly lay between other homes, nestled and caressed by an outline of pittosporums around its perimeter.  Heavy thinning soon took place.

Our first home, an award winning designed Eichler model, had slowly been shrinking as our brood grew. I invaded M’s coveted back lawn for a vegetable garden and the children’s swing set and play area, reduced it further.  We had rounded brick flowerbeds and sprinklers installed, front and back.  I had personally plotted and inserted over 600 bulbs into the ground.  Tasty producing peach and apricot trees dotted the front side lawn and edged the pool. Our atrium dripped and shot up in levels of green; hanging spider, ivy and pelargoniums from the rafters and begonias, caladiums, elephant ears and S.African species of exotic bromeliads rose from the ground edging the inner Saltillo tile patio with a gigantic three tiered ceramic fountain filled with incredibly stalwart goldfish the children had won at various spring and summer fairs.

That was the home where we put in a lot of sweat equity, a fixer upper. It was our labor of love for two years till we brought each of our babies home to it.  Our hippie wine/hang out room with two comfy papoose chairs and a macramé hanging coffee table became the red, white and black Westie puppies’ nursery. As chic as an Eichler built home is for a young couple, its walls of glass became a concern every time one of the kids ran into them with their heads while crawling, their walkers while learning to cruise around and their big wheel trikes when nearing their terrible two’s.

Plus, we just wanted them to roam free, barefoot and loose in a secure large yard.  We both ascribe to the Jean Jacques Rousseau philosophy of child rearing as well as a strong belief in formal academia.  So we searched, dropped our search, saved more money and researched, clipped coupons and miraculously found this parcel.

But, I digress.

Today is a great day to plant my little pots of winter vegetables and herbs.  The winds and rains have died down and the sun is smiling on my newly cleaned up garden beds.  Thanks to my husband, the old strawberry, basil, tomato, eggplant, pepper, blackberry and zinnia plants are tossed in today’s garbage bins and a freshly laid drip irrigation system is in place.  Now, all I have to do is sow some wildflower seeds and plant my newly acquired cilantro, rhubarb, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, Brussels sprouts, kale and sweet pea newborn seedlings into the heavily composted soil.  I also need to get some bulbs I picked up dug into the front lawn flower beds.

Gardening is a renewing and hopeful activity.  It’s a great time of year for cleaning up debris and yanking out old tired roots/habits and weeds.  Pruning, cutting back and preparing the soil/soul for regrowth. Designing, imagining and sowing seeds/thoughts and young plants/ideas and projects.  The beginning of the year, is a perfect time to hope for an incredible increase in yield and harvest, patiently watch, accept and nurture crops/deeds and be one with nature.  I am in the garden where I lose time and I nourish my soul via my senses and bones.  I have a plaque with the following quote at the entry of my vegetable garden steps.

The kiss of the sun for pardon.

The song of the birds for mirth.

You are nearer God’s heart in a garden,

Than anywhere else on earth.

Sit comfortably in a quiet location, close your eyes.  Breathe, deeply into your nose and release through your mouth. Allow yourself to repeat the process of breathing with attention three more times, at least.  Invite your breath to deepen, maybe breathe in and out of your nose now, then release all control of your breath, let your shoulders, neck and face relax, ask for guidance, feel the rhythm pumping inside your blood, your cells, your veins and go within your heart of hearts and  –

On day three – ask yourself the following three questions:

1. What would I do if money was no object, I could be any age, and physical/family limitations were lifted?

2. What is my passion?

3. Am I stifling or releasing my need to ____________?

Perhaps you have hidden talent or a desire to be someone else.  When I write about soul-centered searching, I am reaching deep within.  I am asking you to go there too.

It’s possible to not feel comfortable in our own skin.  That’s ok.  Becoming authentic and being the best we can be is character developing.  It can be excruciating.  It feels raw.  Keep reaching inside for the truth.

Maybe you lose track of time when you are gardening or cooking or exercising.  It’s almost like you just can’t help yourself.   All creative endeavors we enjoy produce a lapse in time as we know it.  And that’s ok.  Following our bliss IS the co-creating we do with the Universe.

Being in the moment with any activity is a meditation.  Even if the only activity is breathing, inhaling, exhaling, sitting comfortably in a quiet place, our eyes closed, our hearts, mind and souls wide open.  Listen.

The answers are already there, inside of you.  You know this.  You know it.

Let go of all denial or fear.

One more question – What have you always wanted to be ?

Just curious.  Let me know.

It being the first week of July, I thought it appropriate to have it as our theme.

July brings with it thoughts of bar – b – q’s and beaches and no school.  Vacations, lazy lounging by a pool and hot, hot, heat.  Picnics, outings and kids everywhere!!!

July is also the month of creativity and harmony as flowers, fruit and vegetables start to bloom, procreate and ripen.  No better time to incorporate salads and fresh veggies/fruits into our repertoire of snacks and meals.  Peaches and stone fruits abound and peak in July.  Zinnias, roses and geraniums are all the rage in pinks, oranges, reds and yellows – the colors of the sunset.

“Summer is not so much a season as a melody, that tune of contentment we hum as the days begin to beautifully blur.” – Sarah B. Breathnach

Think honey bees and suntan lotion.

Let’s practice yoga with ease, awareness and abundance.  We will be using Garden cards and Garden Goddess Juice with a Gandalf playlist.

See you there.

Honoring the Great Mother – Earth

and the divine feminine Spirit in us all – The Goddess

picture taken by victoria steger may 6, 2010 in our garden