My keen observation of gardeners reveals they are all spiritual in nature, to some extent. Whether they are into flowers, fruit trees, herbs, vegetables, conifers or succulents, all gardeners commune with nature.
They are inspired by dirt and atmosphere.
They depend on the weather, water, life, reproduction and love.
They understand the cycle of life profoundly. They experience it sharply.
The energy of the plants radiates to them.
As a fellow gardener, I approve this message.
As we hide away from all the noise and work, I am taking it easy today and just resting with spa music and reading decor books and magazines.
Wouldn’t it be grand, I was thinking, to have a zen like garden. A contemplation “jar din” with restful, seated and gravelly, walking areas? Sounds just about right. Maybe a round, wooden bench, circling our big California Pepper, maybe a bridge over a smooth, grey-blue stoned pond or a covered deck under the eucalyptus trees.
This vision immediately lowers your blood pressure, breathes you slower, deeper and longer. A garden sanctuary is a place to unwind, slow down the pace. It makes you want to sit and pause and think and watch natural life around you.
With our butterfly bush, fruit trees, sunken kitchen garden, compost area, aloes and grass, there are a lot of flying, crawling, colorful wonders.
It was good today to just sit in the warm yet tolerable sunshine, lounging by the pool, imagining myself and others, meditating, pouring tea and languishing amongst arched structures, stone angels and swirling pathways edged by lavenders and grasses.
The patina we acquire as we age is in direct proportion to our most hidden, secret gardens in our souls.
Never lose your appreciation for the simplicity in beauty and you will always be in awe of the complexity in life.
Namaste
Everyone knows I love trees and flowers, especially conifers and weeping willows, roses and sturdy blooms. This is the view from the top of the parking garage (5th level) by our hotel in the middle of downtown Berkeley. It is a view of UC Berkeley campanile tower which has bells that ring out the hour, every hour. I guess it keeps the students in the know in case their cell phones die.
Having a campus abundantly forested makes the whole campus sing with higher vibrations.
Crassula perfoliata variety falcata is a South African perennial succulent plant. It does well in our dry, hot climate as it needs hardly any water. Its common name is Airplane plant.
Crassula falcata grows up to four feet high and wide. It can flourish in the sun or shade and even by the beach since it tolerates salt spray and winds. This amazing specimen is fire resistant so it also works well in large, sloped dry spots. To top it all off, its flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and is deer resistant. It blooms red fragrant flowers all summer and into fall. It is easily propagated from new shoots off the mother plant. Crassula falcata would look stunning in a rock garden because it such a bright burst of color. It has everything going for it so I would certainly like to see it in local nurseries.
This photo was taken at the San Luis Opispo Botanical gardens.
San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens – There are two acres finished out of a 150 acre area. This is truly a labor of love like all volunteer or life long gardens.
Meet Clarence, the 3000 pound eleven year old ox.
And, this cutie pie goat said hello to us bright and early. All the goats were so trusting and friendly.
Don’t tell my trainer J but I hadn’t had breakfast so I was starving and this was the healthiest meal – fried zucchini and artichoke hearts. We also split a fried coffee.
How tall are these corn stalks anyway? My husband is six feet tall.
What is your favorite Herb?
What is your favorite Flower?
I love the smell, look and flavor of rosemary.
Rub the soft needles of a rosemary stem or flower and the oils release right into your skin. Rosemary can be made into a topiary bush. Some types are ground covers, others are upright medium height plants. All will flower with white to blue flowers that attract wildlife. All varieties make a great addition crushed or whole to potatoes, chicken and other traditional pairings.
The rose is my favorite flower. I know. Pretty common favorite flower. But what is special about the rose is it is edible as well as precious as a bud, and every moment of its unveiling of its petaled layers as they bloom, and its end, when it is called rose hips. Plus, the delirious scent is heaven.
Obviously, the scent, flavor and looks of both my favorites is important to me. What qualities does your favorite herb and flower have? Why do you appreciate them?
Using the Biodynamic Gardening Lunar calendar, I planted heirloom sunflowers approximately three or four months ago. I cannot recall but I know I sowed the seeds willy nilly thinking, “yea, let’s see how great or not so great this turns out.”
As it is revealing, the calendar has been working rather well for me. Plants that I am notorious for killing are living. Everything I plant according to the calendar is not only surviving, but thriving beyond my expectations. And, obviously I even forgot I had sown sunflower seeds. I watched the stems grow long and wasn’t sure what was going to burst on the scene. This morning I felt great surprise when I encountered the blooms open. Then and only then did I even remember I haphazardly and with not much fanfare sowed these fabulous sun lovers. I love forgetting where I have hidden bulbs, seeds and plants and then – voila! They appear!
Basically, I amaze myself as I marvel at the earth’s handiwork, with no encouragement from me, and I have no angst or disappointment when something doesn’t deliver because I cannot remember what I am doing anymore.
In this scenario, I am living the Tao.
Amongst all the cement, glass and steel – a little green and nature on top of a building makes an unexpected appearance here and there, dotting the NYC skyline with relief.
When we forget who and what we truly are, we suffer.
When we remember who and what we truly are, there is sweetness, tranquility and silent power.
As it says in the Tao Te Ching, returning to the Source is serenity.