The mild temperatures and golden sunshine lured me out into the garden this afternoon. My backyard paradise is shifting into fall, as evidenced by tassels appearing on the grasses and the blooms fading on most of the flowers. However, there is beauty to be found in the garden during all seasons. I was happy to grab a bucket and pull weeds.
Working in the garden fills me with peace and quiet joy. I walk through the garden at least once a day, checking plants, watering or plucking sprigs of herbs for tea. After planting in containers in the spring and freshening mulch, the only other arduous task is staying ahead of the weeds that like to pop up amidst my herbs and flowers. Although a thick layer of cedar mulch helps to keep weeds down, about once a month I work my way through the beds, pulling weeds.
It’s beneficial to the garden to eliminate weeds. If allowed to grow, they compete with my plants for water, nutrients and sunshine, creating a less than optimal environment for growth. As pulled up these intruders and dropped them into my bucket, I couldn’t help but think about how I am doing the same in my life.
I choose to eliminate things from my environment that are not optimal for my growth either. This includes negative people and situations, clutter and toxic or unhealthy foods that compromise my health. Just as pulling weeds creates space around the plants, I’m creating space in my life by removing the things that crowd me or bring dis-ease. My garden is flourishing with such care..,and so am I!
Pulling weeds is therapeutic, allowing energy and thoughts to flow. And it brings me close to the plants and the earth as I search among foliage for interlopers. Today I discovered surprised tucked among the flowers, treasures that delighted me.
This time of year it’s common to find volunteer plants that have matured from seeds sown from nearby flowers. I didn’t plant those seeds. Nature did. I liked coming across unexpected plants today. There were new portulaca (moss roses) near the Peace Gate…one with hot pink and orange blooms and one that sported only white flowers.
The surprise tomato plant is healthy and sprawled along the ground near the fence. It is covered in green fruit that appears to be cherry tomatos. I suspect this plant came into my garden by way of a bird flying by overhead. The Divine knew before I did, apparently, the important role that veggies would play in my near future!
And near the brickio, actually even on the brick patio, self seeded firework flowers are blooming. I’ve been watching these grow, and decided to leave them alone. They are such cheerful flowers, and so easy to start from seeds, obviously. I sat on the brickio, sipping tea, and the sight of these bright pink and yellow flowers made me smile.
The best part about working in the garden today was the way my body felt. The healing going on within manifested outwardly as ease of movement. I felt lean, flexible and strong. I stooped, bent, lifted and tugged on weeds without pain in my lower back or legs. I even perched on my low-to-the-ground gardening stool and was able to get up without strange looking contortions. Okay, maybe minor contortions, but again, without pain. I am confident that I will continue to heal and I’ll soon be able to stand up easily and smoothly from a crouched position.
As I surveyed my work, and wiped sweat from my brow, I felt euphoric there in my garden. It was paradise, indeed.
