Mum's the Word

New Growth

         Mums speak the color language of autumn. They pop in rich wine, warm gold, russet and amethyst. This year I had deep ruby and saffron gold. You can see them below at the back of my little garden.

The vibrant blossoms do fade and then brown, but they hang on for a long time. Eventually you are left with canopies of dry flowers. You can get an extended blossoming season by pinching the flowers just below the head as they wither. http://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/all-about-mums/
I waited a little bit too long and my method was a little too comprehensive. Next year I will dead head them incrementally and keep the lovely umbrella shape. My Texas climate is quite forgiving though and I do have regrowth and three buds.

Early October

End of season

     All this dead heading and clearing made me think about the New Year. It's a good time to let go of ideas and beliefs that no longer serve me. "Insanity is doing the same things again and again and expecting different results." (Anonymous)   For instance, if I really want to lose some weight, I am probably going to have to go to the gym even when I'm tired from work. If I want some of  my relationships to feel different, I am going to have to change the way I look at them and how I react.
If I want to know God's will for my life, I can stop complaining and make time for meditation and prayer.
     I need to pluck the dead leaves, sink into my own roots and drink in some quiet. In silence, I can ponder how and where I want to grow. The German theologian Johannes Tauler wrote, "In prayerful silence you must look into your own heart. No one can tell you better than yourself what comes between you and God. Then listen!" I am taking a cue from my garden and "mum's the word."

Bloom

     The rustiest, oldest ones are the most interesting. You can plant flowers in fine pottery; they always look fancy there. Or you can re use and re purpose items and scatter a bit of whimsy around the garden. Succulents and flowers can find a fresh home in old tea kettles, rain boots and even flour sifters. I found a set of old wash tubs that I plan to sand, seal and repaint. I am currently mulling over color combinations; turquoise is currently in the lead. I'll keep one side for a medley of plants and one side for frosty beverages.

     People are containers too. The vessel of our physical body is the temporary home for our eternal soul. If we are honest, we can't tell a lot by the exterior alone. A pleasant expression and beautiful outside may contain a beautiful spirit, but not always. Yet a beautiful spirit glows outward imparting  a warmth and energy that is hard to pin down. Audrey Hepburn wrote, " The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides."
     Working in retail, I help woman pick out clothes all day. But the biggest hurdle to this process is their own perception of their exterior. " My bust is too big." "My arms are too fat." " I don't want to stand out." I hear comments like these constantly. I say, " Nonsense." They often don't believe me. I want to hug them and tell them that those arms have cradled babies and worked ranches. Those arms have wrought a miracle or two to date with more miracles on the way. Women are hard on themselves; I don't know why. I am guilty of it myself. Indie Arie sings "I know my creator didn't make no mistakes on me." She's right. This holds true for both men and women.
     You can have the most elaborate flower pot, but it has to be complemented by just the right bloom and texture. People too. Let's work on the inside and let the spirit illuminate the exterior. Don't contain yourself, bloom.

Sheltering Trees

   

   The snow was a surprise. It does get cold in South Texas, but snow is a Christmas miracle. I brought my potted plants indoors. They line the kitchen counter like colorful dancers in a parade.

     I have spent many happy hours nourishing, watering and pruning my plants. Leaving them out in the snow was not an option. Shelter was needed; I am delighted to have my leafy friends indoors. They will go outside again when temperatures rise to 40+F.   The surprise snow storm got me thinking about what it means to offer shelter. Two other ways of offering shelter are: Prayer and Presence.

     Soren Kierkegaard wrote "Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays." Unlike botany, there is no hard science for the eternal soul. Concrete results of prayer do happen, but they are filtered through the human heart. Miracles happen constantly, but we have to have eyes to see or we may attribute divine intervention to chance. The best praying I have ever done has been for people that I found difficult. This is a daunting practice because it pushes me to examine my own shortcomings and sense of  self. Covering people in prayer is a second and powerful prayer. When my son was seriously ill, a whole church of people I never met prayed for his healing. I feel that all that love and kindness boosted my family during a trying time. There were moments that I felt lifted up for no tangible reason.
     Finally presence is shelter. Visiting the ill, comforting the grieving, giving a kind word, consoling the saddened and sheltering the homeless.  I have been the recipient of countless acts of presence.  Presence received encourages presence paid forward.
     The flowers splash color and joy around my kitchen. If shelter makes a plant happy, imagine the miracles we can create in each other's lives. Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote: "Friendship is a sheltering tree." The world can be bitterly cold and deeply dark. This Christmas may we find ways to be sheltering trees.

Keepers of the Light

    Their complexity makes them beautiful. Curving over pathways, shading picnic tables and gracing gardens, branches form a canopy over many settings. Geometric patterns arise as the tips of the branches and leaves grow outward seeking sunlight. This growth is typically seasonal and often occurs in spring and early summer.

     Sunlight, water and air are crucial for growth and nourishment. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy .  Leaves contain chlorophyll, a green compound that is a photo receptor. Water is drawn up through the root system and combined with carbon dioxide that enters the leaves' pores. Light is the catalyst that creates glucose and a release of oxygen to the atmosphere surrounding the tree.
     The molecular structure of  chlorophyll is a ring centered around a  magnesium atom. In the human body, the oxygen transporter, hemoglobin has a similar ring structure but is centered around an iron atom.       http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/chlorophyll/chlorophyll_h.htm
There are three striking similarities between branch and human growth that are worth exploring.

Chlorophyll Molecule

     Branches grow from the tips or edges of their comfort zones. There must be a stable root system for a tree to flourish, but new growth always comes from the tips. If you have ever seen a nail or wound in a tree, it does not travel higher on a tree trunk; the growth happens closer to the sky not the  earth. The intricate patterns of branches bring beauty. The same is true for people. It is the complexity of a person that reveals their true beauty. Real growth occurs when people push past expectations and look up. Whether it's learning something new or thinking in a new way, this is where the growth occurs.
    Oxygen is the second parallel. Everyone learns about plants in elementary school, yet we take them for granted. Plants continually cleanse the air and give off oxygen that we need to live. We breathe so automatically. Unless there is a problem, we don't think about it. Our bodies need oxygen to function and thrive, but we rarely take the time to refresh ourselves with a deep breath and quiet.
     Light is the final and most important factor. Without light there is no photosynthesis and no growth for plants. For human beings, love is our light. Children in orphanages wither without it. Grumpy people bloom in its presence. Faces shine when they feel it. It is a gift that anyone can give, at any time.  Theodore Roethke wrote, " Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light." This holiday season, may we be keepers of the Light.

In the Weeds

   

     There is an army of them,  little soldiers that  invade and claim the turf. I had only left my garden for a week, and yet they crowded out the smiling pansies and over ran the rosemary. A weed is simply a plant in the wrong place. Many weeds are used for medicinal purpose, teas and even food. While I appreciate their utility, I don't want them crowding out my flowers. So on a unusually crisp Texas morning, I found myself in the weeds.     The type of weeds that populate your garden can tell you a lot about your soil. Crabgrass, spotted spurge , moss and others favor moist soil. Dry sandy soil is perfect for plants like sorrel, nettle and pig weed. Low fertility soil harbors Queen Anne's Lace (wild carrot), mullein and fennel types. Queen Anne's Lace thrives in alkaline or sweet soil while sorrel seeks an acidic environment.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-types-and-weeds.htm

If you have an overgrowth of clover, your soil may be nitrogen poor. An infusion of high nitrogen fertilizer can make your yard less hospitable. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lgen/what-the-weeds-in-your-lawn-are-telling-you.htm

     There are different ways to manage weed roots. The easiest weeding is done right after it rains. The invaders with shallow roots easily give way and the deep rooted ones are more pliable. Yet not all weeds are eradicated by immediate removal. The Canadian Thistle requires a consistent,creative effort.https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/canada-thistle-control.htm

     The Canadian Thistle has a deep root system and a craving for low fertility soil. The first step is to improve the soil of your garden. Local extension services offer soil testing. Once you know your soil composition, you can use a chemical or organic approach. While chemicals are effective, they will also destroy surrounding plants. Pulling this weed out by the roots risks splitting the root and seeding it. Though time intensive, the scissor method is more precise. Cut the thistle off at the base, then trim any new growth that occurs. This will force the plant to use energy for regrowth instead of spreading. It will eventually wither away.
     Time in the weeds can be instructive. In the restaurant world if you are" in the weeds" you are so behind that you are on the verge of being over run. The server has too many tables and not enough time to take care of them properly. This happens in life too, especially during the holiday season. Expectations have a way of crowding out the beauty and peace. Flowers need space to flourish; People need space to flourish. Better to accomplish a few activities with joy, then a  full schedule with resentment. If you are like me, some of your expectations will need to be constantly trimmed back, much like a Canadian Thistle. That's the work of weeds. Weeds teach about soil, expectations teach us about ourselves. 

Lessons From A Butterfly

 
    It floated across the pink rose bush. Darting quickly between the geraniums and the snapdragons, two perfect, orange hued wings opened and and closed. Butterflies in flight seem aimless, even chaotic, but their flight is carefully orchestrated to evade predators..Scientific American on Butterfly Flight.  These tiny flying beauties use their tubular proboscis to gather nectar. As they move from flower to flower, they carry pollen on their legs, brush against the stigma of nearby flowers and encourage new growth. Their feather weight makes them adept flyers and able to settle on the tiniest bloom. Butterflies weigh between 0.75 grams for a large monarch to 0.04 grams for an elfin variety.

      Kindness is a butterfly; The smallest gesture or word endures. Years ago, I was a young graduate working in Washington, DC. A cobbler fixed the soles of my worn out black shoes for free. They were polished to a high luster and more beautiful than the day I bought them. His kindness took me by surprise and I have never forgotten it.
      There are no small miracles and no small kindness. St Augustine wrote, "Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature."  Change in nature can be instant, like a forest fire, or gradual like the growth of a plant. Change is a constant.  Every day gives the choice: Be positive or negative. I'll choose the butterfly way : 1)Take myself lightly 2) Stay in the moment and 3) Create beauty where I find myself. 

Garden Reflection

     It's a very good thing to be stubborn. Well not all the time, but persistence does pay off.  I could read the exasperation on my husband's face as we circled looking for a parking spot. We found one a little walk from the entrance and made our way to Herman Park. The Japanese Garden is snuggled into a quiet corner that borders Fannin Street.
     When you enter the garden, you walk along tree lined paths bordering koi ponds. There are pale lavender iris scattering the banks, lotus in the water and beautiful crimson umbrellas of Japanese maples.

Sky koi

It was a hot, humid Texas day. The sweat rolled down my back, but the stillness caused the sky to meld with the water perfectly, as if for one moment heaven and earth met.

      A large white crane landed while I sat on the bank. In Japan, the crane or, tsuru, symbolizes longevity, good luck and fidelity. Cranes are monogamous breeders and a symbol of marriage. Their image adorns traditional wedding kimonos.http://asianlifestyledesign.com/2012/05/asian-symbolism-crane/

Resting crane in the middle of photo

      Gardens can be powerful places for contemplation. Just as the sky reflects in still water, our thoughts need stillness for reflection and connection. George Bernard Shaw said,"The best place to find God is in a garden.You can dig for him there." The soothing sound of tumbling water, a muffled stir of leaves and an unexpected visitor bring a gentle quiet. What if God is always speaking but we are never listening?  Time spent in a garden can encourage a still mind and nourish a receptive heart.

Butterflies Don't Bite

Butterflies don't bite

Celosia

   As I pulled up to the entrance, I was immediately delighted by the view. Arches of morning glories, rings of soft pink and cream roses, stalks of fuchsia celosia and a wall of bamboo were immediately visible. I grabbed my sun hat and camera and set off to explore the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, Texas.
     The property is divided into garden areas that complement the structures. The first little cabin is surrounded by plants and flowers that attract butterflies.

Nearby there is a pond trimmed by bamboo and brimming with hot pink lotus flowers.

A sweet frog statue sits at the edge of the pond contemplating the scene. St Francis oversees a perennial garden and roses and vivid brimming borders lead up to a church and event venue.

     There are herbs, annuals, perennials and of course, roses for sale. The variety of color and scents is dizzying. Who knew there was a Hot Chocolate rose or a Julia Child rose? The aromas of the roses range from none to heavily perfumed, with touches of lemon, musk, honey and herb in- between.

I learned a lot and enjoyed getting ideas for my own gardens. The use of garden statues here is understated and clever. Every area has charm and balance.

Whimsical use of succulent plants!

I spent 3 hours ambling about taking photos and chatting with staff about plants and roses. Everything was idyllic until I tried to get a photo of a pale pink rose. I became Sunday brunch for feisty fire ants.

     I was tempted to drop my jeans on the path, but I did not. Before I could brush them off, several angry ants bit me through my jeans! I got them off and  shook out my socks and shoes, but a few stray friends bit me on my upper left arm. The bites began to swell; my pleasant garden time was done. I needed Benadryl and some hydro-cortisone cream. I headed home.
     Yet not even my itchy arm could diminish the joy I found in the gardens. The masses of butterflies are glorious, moving rainbows.  The medleys of flowers gave me numerous ideas for color and texture combinations. Finally, the knowledgeable gardeners were kindly guides to my Texas Eden.  Get outside. Insects may bite, the rain may fall, but God's creation is ever glorious.

Picking Marigolds

    I rushed in the door. The meeting was about to start and all the chairs were taken. To the right was a round table with ten chairs; one seat was occupied by a petite woman with short, blond hair. "May I join you?" I asked. " I don't know if there's room," the woman replied smiling. I laughed loudly, sat down, and met one of my very best friends. Good friends share a similar energy and humor, but they also help us be the best versions of ourselves. I recently discovered a parallel in the garden. I jump into new projects head on. When I planned my flower garden,  I focused on color and texture, but stumbled onto companion plants.
     Companion planting is an established practice in indigenous cultures. In Native American culture, corn beans and squash are a trio called "The Three Sisters." http://www.heirloom-organics.com/guide/companionplanting.html  The corn, like an older sister, holds up and supports the other two plants. The beans easily receive nitrogen from the air and release it to the soil and benefit all the plants. As the beans ramble up from the soil, they create a lattice that holds the three plants close. The prickly squash leaves repel raccoons and provide a deep shade that encourages moist soil and a self mulching process.
 https://www.almanac.com/content/three-sisters-corn-bean-and-squash

     In the vegetable garden, plants have their favorites. Basil, parsley and parsnips welcome insects like praying mantis and ladybugs. These visitors dine on damaging pests. But it is the beauty and hidden powers of flowering plants that is often underestimated.
     Flowers add splashes of color and texture to borders and beds, yet their physical beauty belies  secret superpowers. The scent of flowering plants confuses and distracts damaging insects.When you plant the edible nasturtium, it entices aphids away from other more vulnerable plants. Calendula flowers attract hoverflies. Hoverfly larvae eat aphids and dead vegetable matter. A border of  perennial flowers lures pests and keeps them from the heart of the garden. Hollyhocks and oregano are just two examples of  good border sentries. While these are are all useful companions, the marigold is my favorite.

http://thegrownetwork.com/7-types-of-marigolds-which-one-is-right-for-you/

     Marigolds run the gamut from palest yellow to deepest burgundy with striped varieties in- between. As a painter, it was the vivid color and ruffled orb of the marigold that first attracted me. I planted some orange marigolds with deep amethyst petunias, trailing herbs and a shot of purple basil: It was like a painting in a pot.

 
















      The roots of the French marigold produce a natural pesticide which repels root knot nematodes. These sinister sounding parasites are microscopic worm-like creatures that cause host plant cells to lump and swell.  The scent of marigolds can attract good pollinators, though hybrid varieties are thought to be less effective. Finally, the leaves of the marigold, and the spread of the plant, may help deter weeds.

     Plants have their favorite companions. People have their favorite companions. No one ever looked at a plot of dirt and a singular plant and said "That is gorgeous." The beauty of the garden comes from complimentary colors and strengths.  I count on my good friends to steer me right and tell me when I am wrong. It's not their exteriors, but their roots, that reveal their beauty. There is a place in the garden, and at the table, for everyone.
   

   
     

The Place of Small Things

        You can't miss it when you drive by. There's Berdoll Pecan Candy and there is a 14.5 foot squirrel statue. They say everything's bigger in Texas and the residents are justly proud of their penchant for the large and awesome: big hair, big BBQ grills, big cowboy hats, big stadiums and big hearts. Yet lately, I've been contemplating the essential nature of  small things.

     Turning over the garden soil you see all kings of earthworms. I work around them gently and send them on their way. Earthworms breakdown dead plant materials and produce on the spot fertilizer. Their tunnels channel  air and water to roots. Tiny frogs eat pesky insects and provide food for larger birds. The tiny hummingbird spreads pollen as it flits from flower to flower sipping nectar. Energetic squirrels harvest many nuts but only retrieve a portion. Unclaimed nuts help repopulate the forest. All these little creatures work together in a bigger ecosystem. The same can be said for the little words and gestures that we put out into our world everyday.

     St Therese of  Lisieux, known as The Little Flower, wrote extensively on the beauty of little things.  She  is known for her spirituality or "little way."  She said, " Miss no opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love." She saw the world as the Lord's garden. She saw herself as a simple, little wildflower unnoticed by the world but giving glory to God in her own way. She felt that just as all flowers had their own beauty, each soul had its own role and beauty. To her, the whiteness of the lily and the splendor of the rose "do not take away the perfume of the violet or the simplicity of the daisy."

     The little way is all around us even in a modern world:  The grocery clerk who always blesses his customers; The barista who acknowledges customers in a long line; Fellow plant lovers chatting at the nursery; A stranger giving up his seat; The nurse rocking a lonely, sick baby; A child's painting hanging proudly on the refrigerator; The wife preparing healthy food for her ailing husband; A little boy bringing ginger ale to a sick mommy; The husband filling his wife's car with gas; A young soldier sharing water on a long hike.
      Small gestures illuminate the ecosystem of  humanity's heart. No thoughtfulness is too small. There is no tiny miracle. There is no insignificant kindness. Our task is to simply see what is in front of us and make our little corner of the world just a little better.

The Habit of Love

     Two very different women love the same man: One is younger, one is older. Though separated by years, culture and expression, they share roots. The elder is Korean, with porcelain skin and tiny stature. Her diminutive physical frame belies a feisty personality and hardworking spirit. She is stubborn and clever, qualities that helped her thrive as a military wife with three children. The children are her world, her heart. She blesses them with gifts: the latest clothes, lessons, a comfortable home, and a respect for hospitality. One by one, the children leave to walk their own paths and the small woman, with the big heart, goes outside to the garden.

     In the yard, miracles are a daily event. Buds bloom, birds sing, lemons the size of grapefruits scent the air, and peaches appear at just the right time. Heavy concrete lanterns  nestle among the jade plants and whimsical statues play hide and seek. There are shaded areas to sit and drink coffee or read, a swimming pool for grandchildren, a picnic table for outdoor breakfasts. She moves tirelessly among the plants, pruning, watering, fertilizing and nourishing beauty. The exhausted younger women watches, but does not see.

     The younger woman is Caucasian, freckled and average in height. Her quick smile belies a stubborn streak that is deep and wide. Her college education was hard fought, and this kind of persistence allows her to flourish as a military wife. She uses her medical knowledge to push her son over health hurdles. Creativity and determination teach him to read. She reiterates that people are more important than things and that humans are nature's keepers. Little by little, he needs her less and less. Though she realizes that this was always the goal, the heartache surprises her.

     She gently plucks the yellow leaves away, settles the rose bush, fertilizes it and sits back on her heels. A hummingbird drinks from the feeder. The woman smiles at the beauty of the scene. Comfy chairs for wine or coffee sit waiting on the porch. The fountain bubbles welcome for birds and pansies nod in the breeze. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she sees the older woman tending the plants. Something in her heart cracks. She realizes that two very different women share more than one thing in common. After years of pouring love into children and home, love became a habit.

     Adult children need less and less tending. Parents strive to make children self-sufficient, yet when they are, it can leave a need to nurture. In the garden, careful attention is still needed. Different plants have different needs. There are rotating seasons for planting, harvesting and quiet regeneration. Sitting on the warm ground, surrounded by plants, the young woman finds herself in her mother in law's garden and the eyes of her heart see clearly.