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.