It’s March. I expect the unexpected. Yet I’m flying in the face of it. Last Friday–waxing moon–dirt devas helped set out broccoli, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, radicchio, arugula. Kale. Knowing that some cold nights–like below 30–were coming. The plants seemed impatient. Ready to get out of their paper sleeves. I doused them. Many times–“are you sure?” Yes, they were ready. And then yesterday and the day before– cold, cold 30 degree rain. Covered the lettuce–two sheets and a tarp. Woke during the night, listening for the furnace. It kicks on near freezing. Listened. Often. Usually the sound of furnace-on comforts me on some level. Last night the sound of “no-furnace” was even better.
I’m remembering now. The reasons why. Why I can’t help but raise–or try to raise–a garden. And I look at that premise–“to raise a garden.” Noticing the unspoken arrogance of the notion–that I am growing the garden. “Caring for” seems more on target. And this notion for some reason has reminded me of childbirth. What we say. What was said. I remember hearing, “He got here just in time to deliver your baby.” Remember thinking, “Really?” Thinking “caught” was more apt.
Noticing language. The tendency to over-inflate importance of self. I do this. I forget that I am not driving the bus. I forget that there is absolutely SO much that I do not control.
But yes, I do make certain decisions. And then live with the results.’ So for now, I think, the plants survived the night. There will be a few more close calls, no doubt. But if we–the plants and I–get through this cold snap, we’ll have a jump on it. The plants will have a chance to become strong and hearty BEFORE the advent of the cabbage moth. BEFORE slugs decide they’re warm enough to graze. And yes, timing is everything, so we shall see.
And this coming Friday, under a waning moon, we’ll plant potatoes. Seed potatoes and potatoes-from-under-the-sink that have sprouted. And we’ll plant turnips, beets and radishes. Planting root crops in the dark of the moon.
They’re scabbing over now–the potatoes–letting the air help form a leathery cover.
And tomatoes–Cherokee Purple. An heirloom tomato attributed to the natives of these mountains. I don’t know. Last year no one had success with tomatoes. Too much rain. I’m not growing many this year. El Nino and all that.
I’m almost finished recording these thoughts–but there’s more I need to remember. There was this, during the week. I wasn’t sure. Didn’t have my glasses on. Used the zoom on the camera to see better. And yes! It is! A bluebird. The box was mounted a few weeks ago. She’s shopping out the neighborhood.It’s blurry, yes, but it’s blue.
And finally, Hope-who-has-become-Hopi, is relaxing into her yoga practice.
This cloth is still feeling its way into being.
And I’m understanding it better now. Understanding where it’s coming from–what it’s saying. The moon. The waxing/waning of the moon. How influential in our lives, in such a quiet, non-demanding way. Yet the power it wields.
Lovely!
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Wow! Is that you?
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I really enjoyed this. Thank you for the reminders.
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and thanks for taking the time to comment! it means a lot.
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Vagaries. What a perfect word. Scrolling backwards and watching this little dog getting stronger and figuring out what home means makes me smile. And the cloths. You have such a way.
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vagaries! yes. and i wish you could meet little dog. she’s blooming right before my eyes. thanks for stopping in, Beth.
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my garden mind is a sleep somehow, i lost it in all the snow. i like the impression of a window on the cloth.
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i know that feeling. “garden mind asleep.” my saving grace happens to be the dirt devas who are way younger than i am, for the most part–and full of enthusiasm. i have to scramble to keep up with them–to have things planned for them to do. and the window on the cloth–yes, i want to go somewhere with that.
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everything you say about the Growing….yes. so much. and POTATOES…i planted them one year just to see if they’d grow and they DID…beautifully and it was such a trip to dig in and find them… but there’s no real way to store them here…no cool enough place…
so i gave many many away. but it was so wonderful. maybe someday again.
Hopi’s got her pose down…good form, Hopi!
and the cloth. the cloth. it’s dreaming itself up.
Love,
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the give-away can be the best part of a garden, can’t it. and yep–the cloth is dreaming and i just need to stay out of its way.
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what a witchy moon cloth!
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witchy moon–what song am i hearing?
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The Eagles Witchy Woman?
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that’s it! oh the vanishing brain cells….
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