Mindful Gardening Newsletter No 17

In the warm embrace of a sunny morning here in Cordressagh, there's a certain kind of magic that unfolds when you plant sunflowers with a child of four years old. It's not just about the act of planting seeds; it's about nurturing curiosity, fostering connection, and sowing the seeds of wonder.

Didn't I come to bring you a sense of wonder – Van Morrison

As we stand together by the wheelbarrow with the seventy-two seed tray module, she holds out her tiny hand to receive some of the giant sunflower seeds. I show her how to make a small indent in one of the module squares, gently place a sunflower seed inside, cover it with soil, and pat it down with care.

With each step, we are not just planting a sunflower; we are planting an invitation to become a radiant and unique expression of the light from the Long Time Sun. She hasn’t yet forgotten her connection.

Planting with Intention

Whatever seeds I plant with or without the help of a four-year-old assistant head gardener I pay attention too the invitation that such seeds represent.  I like to recall the language of mystical poetry and a poem or a song lyric that invites connection to that which is the potential seeded in the human heart. This is a key aspect of Mindful Gardening.

I am always looking for a way to include the language of the heart here in this garden in Cordressagagh.  As the garden develops there will be more banners which this heart language included.  I wonder how you remind yourself of living with heart?

Ah Sun-flower! weary of time,

Who countest the steps of the Sun:

Seeking after that sweet golden clime

Where the travellers journey is done.

This poem by William Blake the artist and mystic reminds me of where it is I wish to go. This is to that placeless place beyond the dimension of time and space that Blake refers to as that “Sweet golden clime.” It is to be in the world but not of it. This is the quest for inner transformation and transcendence, the journey towards wholeness and harmony with the Divine.

Song for the Sun

I have taken to sitting on a chair on a concrete base that was the foundation of the Orangery that was destroyed in one of the windstorms that blew through Cordressagagh in early spring. Each morning I sit and play the Faith guitar.  I notice how sometimes a little robin comes to sing along and its song is so majestic.

I turn to a favourite song lyric which I love to sing. It is George Harrison’s “Here comes the Sun.”  I love to combine it as a trinity of songs that include “Dear Prudence” from the Beatles White album and the song “You are so Beautiful” as Richie Havens sings it. This takes me back to the time when I visited the ashram that the Beatles stayed in at Rishikeshesh in India when I was searching for the “sweet golden clime.”

George Harrison's timeless melody, "Here Comes the Sun," radiates with hope and renewal. Its not so much about the sun but a tribute to the guru who guided him towards enlightenment symbolised by the sun.

At its core, "Here Comes the Sun" symbolizes the dawn of a new beginning, both in the literal sense of the sun rising and metaphorically as a representation of spiritual awakening and enlightenment. Harrison, a devout follower of Eastern spiritual traditions, including Hinduism and meditation, often incorporated spiritual themes into his music.

Planting Up Sunflowers

As the seeds come up in the seventy-two-tray module it’s time to clear that area of the garden that I am going to call Sunflower Hill. This is east of the Writer’s Garden looking South. It’s a little shaded but not enough to adversely impact the growth of these giant sunflowers planted by the hand of a four-year-old assistant head gardener.

When the sunflowers reach that point in their growth where they have what are called their true leaves, I plant them on into larger pots.  If I plant them straight into the ground, then Sunflower Hill becomes a feast for slugs and snails. I will plant the growing sunflowers out in their permanent position once the stems are tough enough that the slugs will not eat them.

There will come a time when I need to stake these giant sunflowers otherwise, they will be blown down by the winds that sometime blow through Cordressagagh in the summer. I buy a lot of eight-foot bamboo canes for this purpose that are also used as garden room boundaries and living walls of sweet pea. These canes are also used to support broad beans and French climbing beans.

Companion Planting for Sunflowers

When planting sunflowers, consider underplanting with companion plants such as marigolds, nasturtiums, or cosmos. These vibrant companions not only enhance the beauty of your garden but also attract beneficial insects and deter pests. I love to underplant the giant sunflowers with the draw variety of sunflower called “Teddy Bear.”  My four-year-old assistant gardener loves these “Teddy Bear” varieties.

There will come a time when I have to behead the giant sunflowers.  In the past I have tried to save the heads for seeds that I can feed to the birds.  I’ve never been successful because the damp tends to rot them. I keep the roots of the sunflower in the ground, and I keep the stalks of the giant sunflowers to use for bee hotels and keep them whole so that they become shelter for bugs and bees during the winter.

Sunflowers and the Inner Garden

Inner gardening with the symbol of the sunflower is a transformative journey of self-discovery and growth. It's about nurturing the seeds of potential within you, embracing the light of awareness and authenticity, and blossoming into the fullest expression of your true self. So, tend to the garden of your soul with care and intention, and let the radiant beauty of the sunflower guide you on our path towards inner transformation and fulfilment.

I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.” – Hafiz

Sunflower Journal Prompt

Reflect on a time when you felt your inner light shining brightly. What circumstances or actions allowed you to fully embody the warmth and radiance of the sun? How can you cultivate that sense of luminosity in your daily life, allowing your light to shine unabashedly?

May the longtime sunshine upon you. Until Next week.