Inspired by a new year we follow a familiar path as we resolve to; spend more time with family & friends, learn something new, help others, eat better, exercise more, reduce stress, and save money. The list designed to inspire us to be our better selves often does just the opposite and creates more stress within the first month of the year. If only there was an easy way to achieve these resolutions! Well, “There is a garden for that!”
We wandered about the Desert Botanical garden last night. We bundled up and enjoyed the cool night for several hours. It had been a few years since we went to the Luminaria, our last time was in the rain and the chill remained keeping us away for a few years. It was a wonderful night this visit. Plus the garden has expanded and improved the venue. More lights on trees in addition to the luminaria. The musical groups have a larger staging area with chairs for listeners to stay awhile and enjoy the very talented groups that are playing.
Where will gardening grow as more than 1/2 the world’s population moves into urban environments? (citymayors.com) Urban living is associated with greater opportunities yet one cost of city life is giving up ready access to green space and gardens. Is the future a space age view like the Jetsons or will gardeners prevail and work green space into the picture?
A perfect temperature in the mid sixties provide great weather for wandering through the garden. The contrast in colors from an April visit to November is fun to experience. The spring blooms of aloes and wildflowers that grow at knee level are gone. The color now is up in the air. The leaves command the attention. Sitting under the Pistachio trees enjoying the changing light as the sun moves in out of the clouds. The leaves in shades of light green, yellow green, gold, peach, orange and red all backed by the bright blue sky make a momentary masterpiece not to be captured but only to be enjoyed at this moment.
November is a month for Thanksgiving and we celebrate it with a feast of food symbolizing the harvest celebration. Gardens, and those who tend them give us much to be thankful for throughout the year.
Winter is a long season in the middle of the country. When the limits of age restrict your range of activity to a small circle of travel, winter can be especially long. With that thought in mind my sister and I arrived at our Mom’s garden to plant a little magic for the spring. The end of the summer growing season requires putting the garden away. Various garden decorations need to be carried inside to protect them from the freezing and thawing that occurs. Favorite flower pots, a garden angel, a gazing ball, and other pretty things are carried inside to store away. A few plants are carried to the basement in hopes they can winter over to be returned to the garden in the spring. Some times they survive, other years it is so cold even the basement shelter can’t protect them.
October in Indiana may just be the best season of the year in that part of the country. The corn and beans are ready to harvest. The leaves are turning, the temperature dropping, the pumpkins in plentiful supply. The air is crisp, the heater kicks on as the evening comes. The dogs coats are growing longer to keep them warm in the winter. The fall season is so beautiful; there are apples, cider, harvest of the last tomatoes, soup on the stove. The great joy of returning to my childhood home for another precious visit.
Quebec, Canada
This is an amazing garden with its collection of 22,000 plant species and cultivars, 10 exhibition greenhouses, some thirty thematic gardens. I wandered through for over 7 hours and still didn’t see it all. On a cool, sunny September day the garden was full of color, texture and surprises.
There is lush green, blue sky, white puffy clouds and lots and lots of water in this part of the world. Twin public parks include walking paths surrounding a long lake. The recognition of the laborers of the coal and steel industries are part of the purpose of this city park. This green space is not even listed on the city’s website and not in guidebooks as of yet. Still for a restorative break from travel this is worth the walk from the city harbor. This is a fine example of maximizing what nature gives you. Rock work, trees, water, and entertaining ducks provide a pleasant visit.
