Getting to know you, getting to know all about you…

Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plane. – Henry David Thoreau I’ve been discussing some suggestions for getting to know your green ally – a plant that will be your guide and friend as you deepen … Read more

Learning to see your Green Ally

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting — a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.— Ralph Waldo Emerson On Sunday, I shared some first steps to finding and … Read more

Finding (and being found by) your Green Ally

A little too abstract, a little too wise,It is time for us to kiss the earth again,It is time to let the leaves rain from the skies,Let the rich life run to the roots again. — Robinson Jeffers Our gardens have much to teach us about finding the balance between creativity and surrender, between acceptance … Read more

Opening the Garden Gate

The Great Way has no gate.Clear water has no taste.The tongue has no bone.In complete stillness, a stone girl is dancing. — Seung Sahn In the garden, we are able to encounter so many aspects of the Divine and the magical. There we may encounter thresholds to other realms, beyond the everyday concerns of the … Read more

Co-creative gardening and science

And every stone and every star a tongue,And every gale of wind a curious song.The Heavens were an oracle, and spokeDivinity: the Earth did undertakeThe office of a priest; and I being dumb(Nothing besides was dumb) all things did comeWith voices and instructions…— Thomas Traherne (1637-1674) Gardening is one of the oldest activities of civilization, … Read more

Magical Threshold

There is a root of peace within this Earth.Plant it in my heart, my home, my land. That it may grow deeply.And then will it branch and give shade, Then will it blossom for the lovers,And yield fruit that none will lack.Then will the old sit under its shade and be honored. And the babies … Read more