Spring, by Rumi

Again the violet bows to the lily.

Again, the rose is tearing off her gown.

The green ones have come from the other world,

tipsy like the breeze up to some new foolishness.

Again, near the top of the mountain

the anemone's sweet features appear.

The hyacinth speaks formally to the jasmine.

Peace be with you. And peace to you, lad.

Come walk with me in the meadow.

The Friend is here like water in the stream,

like a lotus on the water.

The ringdove comes asking, Where,

where is the Friend? With one note

the nightingale indicates the rose.

Many things must be left unsaid because it is late,

but whatever conversation we have not had

tonight, we will have tomorrow.

A Scottish Ancestor?

"A Young Daughter of the Picts"

by Jacquesle Moyne de Morgues

c. 1585

Here is a woman truly celebrating the beauty and bounty of earth. The Picts were Celts from ancient Scotland. Their name comes from the Latin pictus, "pictures", because they completely tattooed their bodies with images of magical beauty--flowers, birds, beasts, and fish belonging to the Great Mother. These powerful women were shamans, visionaries, and healers. 

They also ritually initiated and taught the Celtic warrior-heroes the sacred mysteries of sexuality and power. They were known for their great physical strength and bravery as they led the Celtic tribes into battle, wearing only their tattooed flowers and swords. 

(From Cultivating Sacred Space, Gardening for the Soul by Elizabeth Murray)

Spring is Here

It's official. Spring arrived this morning at 04:47 PDT. There wasn't snow or hail or any other signs of winter. In fact it was actually warm outside. I put some pansies in the planter by the front door so it looks cheery now. 

The garden was soaking wet. I tiptoed in and pruned some roses and perennials. After awhile, I noticed the sound of the wind stirring up the sea in the distance. I knew I'd better call it a day and barely made it back up to the house before it started pouring rain. As I look out the window now, about an hour later, it is sunny again, but very windy.

To say the least the weather is very unstable today, but that's typical of our temperate maritime climate. It's the energy that causes spring to "burst forth". The word spring or "spreng" is about a thousand years old and found in many Germanic languages. It appears as "spring" in Old English a thousand years later. Reference to spring as the season after winter is more recent and is found in writings as the "springing time" (1387) and the "spring of the leaf" (1538).

Signs of spring have been coming ever since the beginning of February. The song bird scouts have come and flocks of robins. There are melodies in the forest in the morning that are waking me out of my winter hibernation. Bugs are hatching, hawks and eagles, and migrating flocks of geese are all coming as if invited to feast at nature's great banquet.

Pussywillows were the first to bloom. Then the heather bloomed and the heather bee returned. This last week the Red-flowering Currant bloomed and now the hummingbirds are back. It won't be long before the swallows return, the frogs fill the ponds, and the dragonflies will be flying around the meadow. Each day will be filled with new joys.

Thanksgiving

It's almost December and the garden is providing potatoes, collards, kale, chard, carrots, leeks, rutabaga, cabbage, fava beans, and broccoli. I cut up one of the big Hubbard squash to make a pie for Thanksgiving and it was delicious.

Flowers are still blooming in the garden because the weather has been so warm this Fall. We had a good frost a few days ago, but things are thriving. There are Brussels Sprouts that are just about ready to harvest that I planted this summer. I planted a number of plants in September in hopes that they would survive the winter and come to maturity in February/March.

This has been a challenging year with Anthony shedding his "earth body skin" on April 21. He was mowing the sacred path around the garden and died almost instantly of a massive heart attack. What a way to go! He was full of life and joy, doing what he loved - caring for the Dragonfly Garden. These were his last moments on this earth and then he moved on to his next great adventure. (Read more about Anthony.)

With the help of my friends on Orcas, the garden survived the sudden changes of this Spring. Two months after Anthony, my dad was ready to make his departure from this earth life. I had to suddenly leave for Oregon if I wanted to be with him before he died. I had just planted all of the carrot and corn seeds and several young transplants. A crew of garden angels answered my call for help and watered and cared for the garden through the 2 weeks that I was gone to Oregon. The garden was thriving when I came back much to my comfort and relief!

It has been deeply moving to feel the love from the Orcas Island community for Anthony and me and the garden. At times I thought I might not be able to continue the garden without Anthony, but it has all managed to work out. The garden has been very patient - supporting, nourishing, and loving me during this challenging time. I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!!

Swallows

About 3 weeks ago, I saw some swallows flying over the garden. I rushed and cleaned out all of the birdhouses that are hung on the posts around the garden. I haven't seen them since. They were the scouts who come every year and check out the area. I wonder where they go to tell the others that are waiting to come? How do they know when it is the right time to come? There are a lot of insects for them to eat, so it must be the temperature.

Each year we have been fortunate to have them come and raise their young. It is one of my favorite experiences to watch and hear them as I do my work in the garden. From making their nests, the little ones peering out of the birdhouse, their first flying lessons, sitting on the wires of the garden fence chattering and waiting patiently to be feed, to their soaring flight and swoops down into the garden - it all is a wonder to witness.

One year they nested by our front door. We had a very close connection to this particular family of swallows.They didn't seem to mind us walking by their nest and our curiosity about their activities. One day the nest was empty and we felt sad that they had left. Then a few days later, Anthony walked out the front door and discovered that the little ones were sitting on the dragonfly doorknocker!! We grabbed the camera and captured this wonderful moment. That was the last time that we saw them.

I always wonder if they are the swallows that soar around me when I'm in the Dragonfly Garden.

Snowing in April Again!!

After a week of nice weather and a chance to start cleaning up the garden, it decided to snow!! I quickly covered the lettuce, carrots, beets, and fava beans that are just starting to thrive. I put some mulch around the base of the roses, just in case the snow sticks.

The garden clean up is going slowly, but every chance makes a big difference. I'm still pulling up dandelions and pepper grass. There's a new type of grass that has made its home in the aisles and isn't easy to pull up. I'm not sure how I'll handle managing it. I've pulled out the worst weeds that were near the chamomile carpet in the Heart Room and the Woolley Thyme in the Center Room.

The raspberry patch is continuing to send up new shoots for the second bearing later this summer. I'm happy to see this after almost losing the whole patch last winter due to the ice and rain storms. We lost one blueberry plant this winter and I just replaced it yesterday. I hope it won't mind the snow.

Many people on the island are complaining about the cold spring and the difficulties of getting their gardens started. One woman, who has gardened here for 50 years, said that this is the coldest spring that she can remember.

"May the Farm Be With You"

I was sent this very funny video clip on Organic Food with a Star Wars twist called "Grocery Store Wars". It's very clever and so true. View Grocery Store Wars.