Arches, Hellebores and Ditches

Crossing Tresholds and Collecting Seeded Potential Within

Here in Cordressagagh the wind and rain continue.  I have however, been able to repair the arches that have been blown down in the wind.  I love these archways because they are clear boundaries between the main path through the kitchen garden and entrance to the other garden rooms that are The Writers Garden and St. Bridgit’s garden.

Archways are crossing points. For this Mindful Gardener they represent a passing through to another state of awareness. When I cross under one of these many arches it’s hard for me not to notice that I am entering a different space in the same way that one might enter through a Cathedral door or through the doorway of a Buddhist shrine room.

I have always loved the feel of kind of transition.  I was graced this crossing point when I attended at the Bethnal Green Buddhist Centre in London in my late twenties (1979-80) when I was considering becoming an Order Member. I love it especially when I enter Cathedral spaces.

Now as the Mindful Gardener I have my own threshold places that I have graced with the perfume of roses and the scent of sweet pea.  Often when I cross between the main path of the garden and the individual garden room, I become aware of the cacophony of birdsong that fills the springtime morning and I am drawn to honor the silence out of which it arises. 

I get to remember the language of a favorite mystic poet that always gladens my heart. This is the poetry of the Sufi mystic Rumi – the bestselling poet in the U.S.A.

Birdsong brings relief.

to my longing

I'm just as ecstatic as they are,

but with nothing to say!

Please universal soul, practice

some song or something through me!

Mindfulness takes me to being present - the purpose of which is to invite communion with the Presence that created me to sing its Universal song through me in the unique way it intended. This is what will make me happy. It will make you happy if you allow this Universal song to sing through you.

Unlocking the Seed Potential of Hellebores

One of the flowers that I really love and intend to grow more of here in Cordressagagh are Hellebores.  The ones I have at the edge of the shade garden (which I need to give a name to) are in full flower and some of the flowers are beginning to go over.  The hellebores have flowers of cream and I think I might be cutting some stems to put in a vase for the visitors who are coming to stay next week. There are different colors in the fairy garden amidst the astilbe and the foxgloves.

In ancient Greek mythology, hellebores were believed to be sacred to the goddess Persephone, queen of the underworld and goddess of spring growth. Legend has it that the black hellebore (Helleborus Niger) grew from the tears of the goddess when she mourned the departure of spring and the descent into winter's darkness.

In previous years I have collected the seeds of the Hellebore and planted them in a 72 seed module.  I think I used normal compost rather than seed sowing compost, so the attempt wasn’t successful.  Seeds have their own nutrients and, in the beginning, do not need the additional nutrients that are in compost.  I will use John Innes No 1 and try again.  It would be fabulous to be able to grow my own Hellebores because they will each be a unique blend of color.

So, I am learning how to recognize the best time to collect these lovely good sized black seeds (tears of Persephone) that are silky smooth to the touch.  This is an exercise in paying attention to the way different life cycles of a specific plants.

The Aubrieta Hanging Baskets

I am delighted by the way the aubrieta are beginning to fill the hanging baskets at the front of the cottage.  Patricia O’Rourke who was walking past stopped to comment on how beautiful they are looking. These have been a real success, and it will be interesting to see how much they will cascade over the edge of the baskets.

I bought six of these as small plug plants on eBay and they have been worth the money.  It is a delight to return home from a drive to the village for shopping and see the mass of color that continues to unfold.  I will be exploring using these in window boxes and will try them as edging along the steps leading down into the garden facing West.

There is more to read about Discover the Beauty of Aubrieta Cascade Purple

Discover the charm of Aubrieta Cascade Purple, the delightful addition your garden has been waiting for. This enchanting flowering perennial is a sight to behold, with its radiant purple flowers cascading over slopes, walls, and containers. With a vibrant display of color and an easy-to-maintain nature, Aubrieta Cascade Purple is sure to become a favorite in any garden. 

I will also be looking to obtain a packet of Aubriea seeds to experiment with planting.

The Nut and Fruit Garden

I have been on my knees this week in the Nut and Fruit Garden (when the rain stopped).  It’s a kind of yoga workout.  I get to spend a lot of time in the posture called The Hero with a pair of shears in hand.  It’s a bit heroic dealing with all the rushes and celandine (buttercup) that have grown around most all the apple trees, plum trees, and nut trees since the time they were planted last year.

Its lovely to see them all coming into blossom.  I have managed to level much of the ground using the new shears to cut back the high growing bullrushes, the stems of which can go in the compost.  It is great to have a gardening tool that does the job it is intended to do. I love my new gardening shears.

Once the bullrushes were cut to the ground using the shears in the posture of the hero I placed a lot of cardboard on top of the ground. With the help of Lennon, I will begin to lay topsoil on top of this cardboard.  I will then do an experiment with red clover to see how that will take.  This is food for the bees in what I intend to create as a “Bee loud glad.” (The Lake Isle of Innisfree). The symbolism and images of bees abound in this garden.

The Ditches of Cordressagagh

We have ditches that run along the outer edge of the garden on the East and West side of the garden.  This week I got my latest order from Farmer Gracy with a lot of astilbes included.  I intend to plant these above the waterline of the ditch to see how they will grow there.  This area is shaded by bushes and trees but gets some sun later in the day.

The ditches are filled with yellow iris which have sword like stems and will flower shortly (late April) with their yellow flowers. The yellow iris holds a rich tapestry of symbolism across various cultures and contexts. It is often associated with messages of hope, renewal, and courage, the vibrant hue of the yellow iris is seen as a beacon of optimism and vitality. I love to see it come into flower for the very short time that it does.  However, the sword like stems give interest for much longer. 

Included with the astilbe I have the Japanese Iris - Cupcake which I will be planting in the ditch. More about this lovely plant here

Japanese Water Iris for Creating Sacred Garden Space

Conclusion

So there you have an update on what is happening (and not happening) here in the garden of Cordressagagh. Next week and the following week is a time for visitors. I’m hoping the weather improves cos Annie wants to do some gardening while she is here. Hopefully at some stage I will get to start the seed sowing. Have a great week and spend sometime being a Companion of Greatness to yourself and others.