There is something about the early morning quiet—birds chirping, squirrels chattering, and the company of my cats and dogs as the sunlight begins to make its way through the gardens. Such a wonderful way to begin the day. 😊

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Some thoughts about my little place in the world, my yard, today…

Many years ago, when people walking by my home would say, “What a beautiful yard,” I cringed inside while saying thank you. That inner voice was scared spitless, thinking, What if they ask me the names or information? Oh my gosh, I would just stand there with a blank mind.

Even without the anxiety, growing a garden the traditional way, following how-to instructions, learning all the names, applying all those rules, has never interested me. It simply hasn’t fit.

Something within me has always had an innate appreciation and love for the beauty of nature, especially surrounding my home/s with flowers, bushes, trees, berries, fruit trees, etc.

The compliments continued…and so did the anxiety.

One day, within a meditation, a message from…??? An inner knowing or wisdom? What I experience as God/Source brought me clarity and a heartfelt knowing, a way I could receive and respond to the compliments of others with ease.

From that experience to the present day, my response is a thank you. Within me, I know and feel that I am a steward of my garden. Acknowledging their compliment is acknowledging the joy they feel.

And in that acknowledgment, the life force flowing through the garden, through me, and through them comes full circle. Interesting how reciprocation works…

To this day, I don’t know the names of many of my plants, nor do I grow the traditional way. I appreciate an organic farmer and mentor whose wisdom and insight have been priceless.

It’s pretty awesome. Birds have brought several of the plants and even the beautiful Catalpa tree pictured here, which they brought to my garden just 2½ years ago.

Some credit this to an ecosystem. They’re correct, and I see reciprocation at work, too.

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This is Comfrey — and yes, it really does grow like this!

I cut this one back to just a few leaves about six weeks ago, and it has already completely filled back in. I have several and am happy to share individual leaves or even a plant.

Comfrey is a beautiful addition to the garden and incredibly useful too — rich in minerals, wonderful for natural fertilizer and compost, and traditionally valued for its medicinal uses.

Pretty AND useful… my kind of plant. 

Note: Just to add a little more information for anyone interested in comfrey — mine actually arrived compliments of the birds; I didn’t plant the original one.

Comfrey can be vigorous once established and does need to be managed. The Royal Horticultural Society notes both that it can become a nuisance if left unmanaged and that it can be grown specifically as a plant fertilizer. It is also listed by RHS as a plant for pollinators, so the statement that it does nothing for pollinators isn’t accurate. (RHS)

One of the reasons I keep several is that I actually use them. I cut the leaves back and put them under plants and around trees as a natural fertilizer/mulch rather than simply allowing the plants to grow unchecked. Comfrey has long also been used medicinally, particularly externally for things such as sprains, bruising, wounds and joint or muscle complaints. (PubMed Central (PMC))

For anyone interested only in the leaves, there’s no need to introduce the plant into your garden at all. For anyone interested in taking a plant, it’s worth knowing beforehand that comfrey establishes a substantial root system and can spread, so put it someplace where you’re comfortable managing it.

And for clarification locally, comfrey is not currently listed as a Washington State noxious weed. (nwcb.wa.gov)

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Get A Real Job!

 

The countless times I’ve heard, “Get a real job!” It wasn’t OK to be different. I didn’t know that I was different. I just knew I didn’t fit into the typical job scenario. Believe me, I tried. It was as though I felt caught between a rock and a hard place, yet I was expected to be available at their beck and call. This isn’t about blaming them; it’s social conditioning. And if I wanted anything different, I needed to do that for myself rather than being dependent on pleasing someone else.

It was really interesting. As I moved that direction, it was as though the Universe would show up with opportunities for me to repeat behaviors that I didn’t like, though I knew them and I was comfortable, or to get real and do something different.

I recall this one guy that I was involved with. Damn, he was good-looking and had a beautiful smile and a laugh I will never forget. He insisted that I get a real job, as the work I was doing, which was working for myself and my clients, wasn’t a lot, but I believed it would improve. However, that wasn’t good enough for him, and one day enough was enough. We went our own directions.

I remember going in the bathroom, looking into the mirror and crying, and telling myself, “The men come and the men go, but you’ve got to be true to yourself because you’re the only one who’s going to show up for you.”

So, the operative takeaway is being true to yourself. I’m not here to suggest everyone has to do it the way I did it—far from that. However, I do believe that when life isn’t working, whether it’s in a relationship or as an individual, that’s direct feedback: What needs to change? What needs to improve? And what am I willing to contribute for it to change and improve? 

Until the next time...

Glenda