From Sunlight to Warm Rich Color

I love this time of year, as the last of the early fall sunshine fades to warm rich color. New Hampshire is past its "leaf peeper" peak. Many of us live in New England to experience this transition every year. The last pink buds on my fairy rose are in bloom. The mums are beginning to dip and the asters are fading to brown. I bought a new perennial sunflower this year that has happily lasted well-beyond my intentions. Its flowers now kiss the ground under the weight of the cool autumn raindrops. The intense reds, yellows and oranges of the beeches and maples around my property are now a burnished russet, reminding me of the colors of warm baked pie crust or caramel apples from our recent harvests. These warm satisfying earth tones will soon be gone, replaced by bare trees and then white crystals. But, for now, I feel warmed inside by these rich colors. Pumpkins sit on stoops, waiting for kids to ring nearby doorbells for trick-or-treating in a few days. And then it will be time to prepare for my favorite holiday and I reflect upon how thankful I am that nature has given me this feast for my soul.

Thinking Books...

I found this great quote while looking for ways to publicize my new book online:

"I was reminded of the neatest thing about writing a book in the first place: the author’s obsession, developed over years and often nurtured in solitude, finally becomes a shared point of reference through which readers can look anew at some aspect of the world."

While interviewing the gardeners for my book last year, I felt that I had learned to see the world in new ways. My love for gardening grew. I better understood my place in nature. I am excited to share my views and those of my new gardening friends with others. I set out to write a book with a positive spin that showed the peace we can find when we connect with nature. I hope that I have accomplished that and will help others look anew at their gardens.

Awe

This month's Organic Gardening magazine includes an article entitled "The Professor's Plot" that discusses the gardens at Clemson University. It relates the story of the school's heirloom garden and how the professor "transformed a slope of slick, worn out clay into a showcase organic garden." The last sentence of the article really struck me, relating the philosophy of the garden's caretaker. "And remember that monotonous work --weeding the garden, sorting beans -- allows the brain time to contemplate, question and be in awe."

I think the word "awe" is the most apt description for the ultimate gardening experience. Merriam Webster defines awe as "an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime." It is a feeling I get every time I allow myself to be present with nature. I often times allow my mind to wander to business, chores, and the day-to-day chaos. When my mind wanders so, I am not living in the moment or practicing what the Buddhists call "mindfulness." It really is to our advantage to practice mindfulness as much as possible. This allows us to feel the full impact of "awe." When in the garden, mindfulness allows us to be fully in touch with nature and life's wonders.

As gardeners, we have all had moments when we were profoundly awe-struck. A smell recognized from childhood, a beautific newly opened blossom, small raindrops on our eyelashes...when we notice these incidental and miraculous offerings of nature, we are practicing mindfulness. The awesome beauty of the moment touches our heart and eases our soul when we take in our surroundings with all of our senses.

The comfort of our home garden, filled with our most beloved plants can trigger awe. But sometimes, when we need to get out of a rut, a new surrounding can revive the sensation. This weekend I had a lovely visit with my sister in Narberth. Located right outside of Philadelpha, the village or Narberth is filled with sensational small gardens with riots of color. In my neighborhood in suburban / country New Hampshire, large expanses of green are dotted with flowers. Because of my sister's urban setting, the color was more visible and profound. Small gardens in front of closely spaced houses welcomed visitors. Swaths of long established roses climbed trellises and fences. As we walked sidewalks to get to the park I admired hydrangea, sunflower, and coneflower. Just like Clemson's clay slopes, the city setting is often remarkable for it's ability to harbor a garden. Where the garden seems the antithesis of the urban environment, it instead provides a perfect balance. A good urban garden helps us stay in touch with nature and reminds us to be mindful of that which is not man-made.

At the train station, gardens welcomed curious cousins who played alongside the parking lot. Nature provided us with the perfect setting to play out a long awaited reunion. I spent the weekend getting back together with family. My days were unplanned. Children's baths were unhurried. We flew by the seat of our pants. It's nice to let go once in awhile, so that we can appreciate the little things in life that bring us awe and remind us why we are here in the first place. I hope to return to my own garden today. I see that the weeds have grown and new flowers are opening. The tomatoes are turning red. August is a time of great change in my garden as rudbeckia, aster, mums, and other preludes to fall begin to rear their heads and make their statements. I am always struck by this change. Today I hope to let myself feel that change with all the awe I can muster.

Ten Gifts I Received in the Garden This Week

10. Kids reading in my thoughtfully constructed "fairy princess reading garden"
9. A broken shovel (An excuse to check out some new tools!)
8. A summer sunrise
7. Clouds with a purple underside and glowing pink top
6. Birds Singing
5. A deer crossing my driveway as I returned home (bonus: the deer was nowhere near my vegetable garden.)
4. A frog passing through the yard to show my best friend's little boy
3. Watching my daughter with her butterfly net in hand
2. The first tomatoes and zucchini of the season
1. Time alone to commune with the surroundings

Kids in the Garden

It's been over a month since my last installment of "Kids in the Garden." Here are some new ideas for the month:

Turn on the sprinkler! Do you remember running through the sprinkler as a kid? (Are you from the "Slip-and-Slide" generation like me?) Well, encourage your kids to get in touch with the simple life. But, don't just run...discuss the feeling of the grass between your toes. Encourage kids to catch water on their tongues like a flower catches the rain. Look for rainbows. Talk about the warm sun. A good old-fashioned romp through the sprinkler is a great opportunity to experience nature.

(These plants were spotted in our latest garden survey)

As the flowers are popping, my daughter and I have been "surveying the property." I remember doing this as a kid with my dad. He would announce, "it's time to survey the property!" And I would follow him out of the house to see how things were growing. It was a great opportunity for parent-child bonding, as well as a good way to develop my nature observation skills. Today my daughter and I walked the yard and then stopped for some wonderful swing time and some baseball practice. (The kid is developing a great batting stance. Like mother like daughter...she throws like me too. I think we need to get dad out to help her with that.)


A few weeks ago we planted sunflowers in a square. The goal is to create a sunflower house, where my daughter says she will play "Little House on the Prairie" once the sunflowers are full grown.

Our herb garden is in full swing and I'm encouraging the little one to sample. Last month I talked about her passion for onions. She will graze on them straight from the garden, so we planted a second onion patch near her swing set. This month we planted new perennials and also put in our tender annual herbs. Basil is a personal favorite. After putting ours in, we created a pot full of basil for granddad. He will use it to make tomato, mozarella and basil with oil for himself. Not only is my daughter learning to appreciate diverse flavors herself, she is learning to share with others AND is learning that plants are something to be cherished. They make great gifts!

We've visited many garden centers this month. I am letting her help me pick plants. While strolling through Home Depot, she announced "I want to make a sign." Last year I started a "reading garden" in the shade for her in an attempt to make a space of her own. She has renamed the garden the "princess garden." We picked out a concrete stone for her sign (cost = $2.69.) She had me write "If you are a fairy princess, please come in." We painted the words with "Once Upon a Time" (hot pink) Disney paint, which was leftover from painting her room earlier in the month. The sign as at the entrance of her garden. She's got plans for more signs in the works. One she mentioned is, "Princes are welcome too."

As always, I encourage you to go with the flow. Follow your child's whims and learn what aspects of nature excite him. The more you teach, the more your child will pick up on your ideas and run with them. Nature offers an unlimited playground and a parent need only open a child's eyes to some of the possibilities.

A Great Mother's Day Gift

Walking down a city street with my daughter yesterday she suddenly stops and yells, "Look Mom. Nature!" She pointed to a tree growing in the sidewalk and wanted me to note the small green shoots coming out of its side. I was thrilled that she has learned to spot nature at work, even amidst concrete and brick.

There is No Room for Ego Here

Alternate Title: Why We Need a Global Earth Day
This posting continues the comments thread from my April 22nd posting about Earth Day... (Thank you Esther for your provocative insight on my posting)

I have been told that non-Americans would find it hypocritical if Americans pushed Earth Day on the rest of the world. But to preserve nature and save our environment we must unite globally. The biggest offenders of polluting the earth must be brought into the fold somehow. I think a global Earth Day is one way to help achieve unity.

We will come against opposition as we already have over and over again. Many say that you have come together and not "everyone is on board." Throwing hands up in disgust or finger pointing will never solve anything. I think it was famed author Sylvia Boorstein who reminded us that we would not hit our friend if she turned on us. We would try to calm that friend, seek to understand her and try to help her see our way. We should see our fellow man as "friend" and treat disagreements with the same sense of compassion for all humanity.

Nature reminds us to unite with our fellow humans, recognizing that all of humanity has a similar basic interest -- to exist without suffering. When I am physically close to nature, it helps me realize that I am a small part of a whole intricate existence. It does not matter that I am an American. Ethnocentricity has no place here. It does not matter how much money I make or what my religion is. My personal preferences are unimportant. We are all the same on the very inside. No one person is better than any other. We are all part of the natural world and need it to be a healthy place for our very own survival. Keeping this in mind, I recognize it as my responsibility to help preserve the natural world to help sustain humanity and all living things. I can only do my part and perhaps gently help others recognize their role too. (Of course, this is my ideal. I try to be open-minded, but often forget this ideal and form prejudices. But this is what I strive to remember at all times.)

I understand if you don't want to sit around in a circle, holding the hands of strangers with love beads around your neck...I'm too cynical for that myself. But please make an effort to open your mind to the fact that you have something in common with those different from you. Perhaps you can spread your view by gently explaining it, bonding with other like minded citizens to convince those who seem like adversaries. I often give up trying to explain something, only to come back to the subject when the time is right. For Americans, the time is right now. There are many who are willing to listen about the environmental cause. Holding past gripes and pointing fingers about unsigned treaties and ill-practices will not win hearts. And this issue is too important to give up on convincing others.

Not everyone has my same point of view on many issues that are important to me. It is sometimes hard to come to terms with this. We often see ourselves as better than others because of the labels we've given ourselves or because of gross generalizations about people who appear different than we are. We seek to blame others. We seek to fight with others. We seek to impose our way. Governments can hinder movement in a positive direction. Citizens might be apathetic. The only important truth is that we are all part of nature and we can only survive by relying on each other. We must find a way to work with others to acknowledge our interdependence.

I have found one "theory" helpful. In Buddhism, the ego is something to be dispelled. Buddhism emphasizes the harmony of all living things together forming a whole. Since I am not a Buddhist teacher, it will be hard for me to explain this...but the mission of a Buddhist is to let go of the ego, to understand that whatever we feel or believe is just a perception and not reality. Our selves are only shells housing a spiritual essence or an energy. This energy seeks to be united with the universe and this state can be attained through enlightenment. I like the idea of this positive energy that helps make the universe go around.

The more positive energy we emit, the more we can affect others. Think about when you are happy. The mood often spreads to those around you. If you are unhappy, someone who offers you a little cheer can lift up your own mood. If you have a good idea, you win more people over with a positive push. As a mother, I am sensitive to the fact that convincing my daughter that my idea is hers is more likely to make her act. To get my daughter moving this morning I chose this tact: "Honey, remember the deer we saw in the woods last time. Wasn't he cool? Do you think he might be in the woods again on a beautiful day like today? Shall we go see?" I knew it would work better than: "Honey, we're going for a walk. Mommy could use the exercise and you can too!"

In the garden, I can see my connection to nature, all living-beings, and this unique energy more clearly than I understand it anywhere else. I think anyone who is introduced to gardening and induced to take part would feel it too. But it doesn't really matter how one is introduced to the concepts of caring for the environment. Perhaps you are moved by a nature television show. Perhaps getting your hands in the dirt tickles your fancy. Perhaps a highway strip of wildflowers wakes you up to nature's presence as your drive into work. Perhaps a large scale celebration such as Earth Day opens your mind. No matter what the thing that helps you shed your ego and recognize the magnificent importance of nature, kudos if you have gotten there. If some of us can step outside and smell the fresh air to understand their connection to nature, great! Others may need fireworks and rock bands singing about nature's beauty in an Earth Day celebration. We must all respect that if we are to save this earth and ourselves. There is no room for ego here. We must recognize our interconnectedness and our interdependence.

Do we have time to influence others through patience? Perhaps not, but we also may not have a choice. The Dalai Lama has already waited 50 years to help the Tibetans. Through non-violence, love, patience and compassion, it seems he has convinced the world of the righteousness of the cause of the Tibetan people. Fighting, arguing, holding grudges and prejudices won't change hearts in the long run. What we need today is long-term change. We need to offer realistic alternatives to what is an ingrained way of thinking for many. The proliferation of renewable energies, organic food, and natural cleaners in the United States is a positive sign. Political action groups, National Public radio programs discussing the environment, and documentaries about global warming are furthering the dialogue. Join the dialogues and get the positive energy growing. There is no room for ego here, but there is room for you to share what you know in a compassionate way to further the cause.

A global earth day that acknowledges what different countries do to assist the environment, shares knowledge about sound environmental practices, and presents facts has a place now in America now. "Every day is Earth day," but one special day to emphasize it can only move us in a positive direction.

Earth Day``

Why isn't earth day a national / international holiday? I think everyone should have the day off to clean up their neighborhoods, plant some trees, and think about what it means to be part of nature. I think the earth is one of the most important things that we could celebrate. It would be a chance to recognize that we all come from a common place. It would be a chance to celebrate the miracle of all living things. It would be a chance to take stock of how we can help make the world a better place by valuing our natural resources. Think of the positive energy and good will we could generate by displaying such compassion all at once.

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Spring Gifts

The heralding of spring for me is similar to a child's anticipation of Christmas. I've declared today the unofficial start of good weather. Yes, there is still snow on the ground. Yes, last night the window was howling and the wind chill made it feel like it was in the teens...but this morning the trees in my woods are calm as the sun slowly brings its orange glow over their tops. It feels like Christmas eve.

We have been invited to join our closest friends at their home for the holiday tomorrow. I am on a mission today to find the perfect plant for them. I want one that is easy to keep indoors and then transplant to the garden when the weather warms up a little more. A hydrangea might be in order. I will also be bringing the kids some seeds to plant - flowers? vegetables? Ah yes, and I should bring a pretty little pot so they can watch the seeds grow on the windowsill. I also hope to get some small plants for my closest friends in the neighborhood. I think Easter lilies may be the perfect spring inspiration. Most of my friends are non-gardeners, but I'm determined to convert them. After all, what makes the anticipation of spring more excited than the idea of getting out to watch the plants push their way out of the ground toward that orange glow? I want to share the passion.

Last year my daughter's easter basket contained gardening gloves, seeds, a trowel and gardening shoes (with kitties on them.) This year we started seeds in a biodome to begin the spring celebration. This year, at age four she eagerly awaits the gardening season as much as I. The passion is being transferred to the next generation. This year too, I have offered my daughter's closest friends a space in our garden. Each child gets to pick her own vegetable to care for. They will also help us grow a sunflower patch to make into a clubhouse for their play dates.

There is joy in knowing that a gift plant will give beauty, happiness, and learning opportunities. There is a joy in welcoming spring with friends. Thank you nature for the gifts.

Child's Play

I am "babysitting" and watching the Curious George movie with a little friend of mine as I write this. The opening scene is a beautiful, colorful interpretation of nature. Animals are frolicking and playing with the things they find. I am struck by George blowing a blade of grass. I remember back to my childhood... We looked for the fattest pieces of grass to hold between our thumbs to make the funniest noises possible. Acorns became hats for our thumbs. Fox glove blossoms became doll dresses. Rocks were split open to play jewelry store. Nature was our playground. Plants were our playthings.

Do you remember running through a field just to feel the wind on your face? Do you remember rolling down a hill just to feel your body move in tune with its surroundings, lying on your back at the bottom of hill, and watching the world spin around you? Do you remember climbing a tree just to see if you could do it and enjoying the view once you got to the top?

I am watching a little monkey with a child's eyes. The little boy's giggle reminds me of when the world was shiny new. I remember when the sky was the bluest thing I could imagine and the grass was green like emeralds. Tree bark was rough. Mimosa blossoms were soft. I noticed when the ants were in a big hurry even when I was too...I noticed everything. I was part of nature. The awareness of the world around me made me content with my place and eager to explore it.

Stop to see things through a child's eyes. Stop to see nature as something new and precious. View it as a companion. It is a playground that can keep you occupied all afternoon or for a lifetime.
Show it the same reverence you would give a favored playmate and allow its friendship to harbor you through all your years. For over sixty years, the Curious George series of books have reminded us about child-like curiosity. H.A. and Margret Rey said that they always remembered what they liked as children and created stories to appeal to that. It would do us all a little good to reach inside of us to find those little children (and curious monkeys) peeking out.

Fine Art Photography and the Outdoor Art Exhibit

As the art show outdoor season gears up, I am deciding whether or not I want to sit it out. I've done local shows for the past two years and honestly have not had much success with them. Photography is a funny kind of art. Many people think that they can just pick up a camera and take their own "fine art" pictures because with a click of the camera anyone can have an image of some sort. They wonder why they should pay for someone else's images. "Why should I pay Melissa for a picture of a pansy when I can just go out and photograph the one in my garden?" In other words, many people see painting as a fine art, but don't see photography as such.

The favored "fine art" photographs in my area are images of the country lifestyle - wagons on a hill, barns, fences running through lupine meadows, ducks in a pond. If the location of the spot is identifiable, It makes the image all the more marketable. But do people consider these fine art? (Probably some and not all are deemed fine art by the purchaser. Other people I suspect buy these images because they give them prideful feelings about New England or evoke memories a a specific time in their lives unrelated to the artistic merit of the image itself.) These are not my kind of photos. I don't feel the warm fuzzies looking at rolling hills that lead to a horse in a pasture. I don't feel some sense of nostalgia looking at a picture of the statue of a mill girl with the local Manchester mill yard in the background. I feel as if I've seen them all before. But this is my bias, I suppose. With the risk of offending a few of my fellow photographers, these are the kinds of images that I picture on a postcard, not hanging on the wall of my home. Or, maybe I feel this way just because I know landscape photography is not one of my forte's?

What should a fine art photograph be? Most of the photos that grab me are not the ones I would hang on the walls of my home. I like provocative newsworthy photos. Dorothea Lange is a personal favorite. Her Depression era photographs of people with intense blank stares and hard lined faces capture me. The many textures captured in black and white are nothing short of beautiful fine art. The work of Alfred Stieglitz also captivates me. His great use of line and his ability to make an every day subject something to think about is poetic. Imogen Cunningham is my other favorite historical photographer. I relate best to her probably because she spent so many years in the domestic sphere, fighting to keep her art alive by taking photos of her surroundings. (She also has the fine distinction of producing art that I would hang on my walls.) No one can capture a flower or figure more sensually than she did, yet her news work was just as thought provoking as the rest of her colleagues when she was able to get out there and do it.

In my mind, a fine art photograph should have outstanding composition and should be thought provoking. If you look at my florals and have nothing to say about them, they are not for you. If you look at them and begin to discuss their vibrant color and composition then I've done my job. Better yet if you look at them and say, "I've never known that flower could be so beautiful," or "I've never noticed the detail on those tiny petals," I have made you think about nature. I have chosen the subject of florals because I have a lot to say about it. I just happen to be lucky that it looks good as a decorative object on a wall too.

An artist doesn't want you to take the world around you for granted. She wants you to see things you might not notice if she hasn't communicated it to you through a picture. The camera is just a tool to present a vision, just as a paintbrush is a tool. If you have something to say with a camera, go ahead and do it. There are a lot of talent artists out there with vision and I hope that you are one of them. But, if I do decide to do an art show this year, please don't tell me you could take a picture like mine if you haven't even tried.