I’m not sure why mornings can be so difficult but as I sat here having my coffee I wrote on Facebook that it was a trembly morning and a number of friends wrote in to say that it had been so for them too, that mornings could be hard. As always the only thing for it, when I was just awake and beginning to get anxious, was to make myself get up, to go outside with the dogs, to get them their breakfast and make coffee, but once I had sat down with my coffee I was still uneasy. Finally I went outside again and ambled around the garden with the little ones. I cut a bouquet of Veilchenblau roses for the house and they looked so pretty between the yellow ranunculus and peach roses. They really lifted my spirits.
And my wee pugs were a lot of company as always…
My main garden work today will be planting seeds and little bulbs and corms. Last night I soaked several different types of seeds, and little anemone and ranunculus for planting. I am most excited about several pots on the front porch that will all be planted with moonflowers and blue and white morning glories to climb up the 4 pillars. The house is white brick and both the front door and garage door are sky blue. If they all come up as I hope they will it will be really beautiful in late summer and fall. Growing from seeds requires patience and produces magic. I also soaked other climbers for the deck. I will have all of these things planted before the day is done…
I am smiling now because just as I was sitting here writing the little female red-bellied woodpecker came to the feeder. In the early days I always only saw the male and he is stunning. She is smaller, and without the bright red cap, she is shy and it’s hard to catch her but I just happened to be able to snap a picture as she ate. I think they have babies now, I like to imagine a nest full of wee ones…
I just missed capturing a precious picture of a pair of mourning doves on the windowsill, and then a cardinal, and 2 squirrels flashed by. I frightened them off trying to angle for a shot, merely a foot or two away on the other side of the glass, but there they were, and there I was, a very sweet moment in time.
A single day holds so much. Even though I wake up anxious, and the hours may be hard, the day holds much beauty and exquisite little joys. And there was more, little secrets that I will hold close to my heart, we need those too.
It is getting dark and overcast but it is not supposed to rain. I may curl up with the pugs and watch a movie before going out to plant. Sometimes snuggle time with the babies is good medicine. And then I will plant what needs to be planted. It is Earth Day, a day for planting, and celebrating the birds and wild creatures. Cycles and seasons, birth and death in the natural world are all part of the whole. I lost my little Tanner but all around where he is buried, in the trees, are babies just born and little parents feeding them, seeds and bulbs and plants are planted and will one day be a glory, life goes on in myriad forms and so must we. And I am. I am making it through another day. All is well.
The Experiment ~A 365 Day Search For Truth, Beauty &
Happiness: Day 1 ~ Introduction To The Project
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
Yoda
maitri, i have serious vase envy. i love those glass bottles holding your flowers!!!
i have a whole drawer in a chest in my dining room of small vases, so i have my pick as i refresh my kitchen table altar and my window sill over the sink.
today i gave a presentation on Prison Wisdom to the Quaker Fellowship (with volunteers reading inspiring writing by inmates), and it moved me yet again. I will never be jaded to the wonder of sharing such a diverse and talented humanity with people “on the outside.”
and yes, today is earth day, halleullia. where would we be without her? Non existent!
xo
ka
Ah Katya, I too love those wee vases. I actually used to have quite a number of them. They came in sets of 6 in slightly different shapes and colors and over a few years I bought more sets, and I had a nice collection of little vases too. Most of them were in a cabinet in the kitchen and everything in the kitchen, where the fire started with an explosion, were lost. I had a cupboard in my studio where I stored some vases and they were, thankfully, saved. It would be a fun thing to look for at little junk shops, I don’t get moving early enough to do yard sales like you do, it would be afternoon before I could get to one and everything special would most likely be gone, but there are fun little vintage shops and junk shops and places around Wilmington I might get brave enough to go to when my garden is all abloom. I just planted six pots on my front porch, all matching turquoise pots in 2 different sizes, with moonflowers and blue and white morning glories. If they go well as I hope it will be beautiful late summer and fall.
And ah, your Prison Wisdom work is so important. I’m so glad that this work continues on. I am about to feed the pugs and then do some planting out on the back deck. So much to do for the next 2 or 3 weeks, so many seeds to plant. And I’m not much of a food planter other than some herbs but I bought seeds for Rainbow Chard and a tiny French “Breakfast Radish,” (I’ve never planted them before, I hope they come up.) and Basil of course. I get sad, but I don’t have time to be sad for long. There’s too much to do!
I hope you had a lovely Earth Day. I will look forward to seeing pictures of your garden… 🙂
M. xoxox
Maitri-
I so love that you’re back out in the garden.
Even while traveling, I’m thinking about vegetables and flowers to plant, up in our (hopefully) new summer garden in Quebec, and poking around Italian seed catalogs to see what might be suitable (along with all of the normal cool-season vegetables).
Love your roses!
Thank you so much dear Lisa, it is good to be out there for sure. As I just wrote to Katya I get sad but I don’t have time to stay sad for long, there’s simply too much to do!
And I look so forward to seeing what you do in your garden in Quebec. The place is just enchanting, I’m delighted for you. I forget when you are back from Umbria and off to Canada? What adventures you are having! Enjoy and yes, thank you, I love my roses too, and that they are coming back and blooming after such neglect makes me so happy. They were always the glory of the place.
Take care, and happy gardening WHEREVER you are! 😀
Oh Maitri, what beautiful roses! I love the single ranunculus, it’s so pretty in its tiny vase. The seeds look fascinating, it will be interesting to watch them grow. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m glad you managed to lift yourself past your trembly morning. Sundays can be difficult. Hugs and love to you and the pugs. xxx
Thank you so much dear Jenny, as I just wrote to Lisa I am so delighted with my roses because they were so neglected, in a tangle of weeds, overgrown, and barely a blossom at all due to lack of feeding and care. I started last year with some pruning and feeding and that really helped them do better this year. They have been well fed and will continue to be. And there are many more that aren’t blooming yet but will be soon. It is exciting to go out in the morning with the dogs to see what is in bloom each morning.
And yes, it was a bit of a hard start to the day and you’re right, Sundays can be hard days, weekends really, but I managed to make it through and as I said to both Lisa and Katya above I get sad but there’s too much to do to stay sad for long! So much planting and planning. It is helping me so much.
Hugs and love to you too honey. And yes, ranunculus are one of the most delightful plants, I love it…