Mindful Gardening Newsletter No 22
Its Sunday morning here in Cordressagagh and the only sound is the purring of the little black cat Sparkle as she sits on my chest as I type up this edition of the Mindful Gardener Newsletter. One of the things I have been mindful of in the garden this week is the sound of the birdsong and the robin that is this years fledling and has now taken up residence in the garden and absolutely loves the fat balls in the tree on which clings the rose named Compassion.
I woke up this morning with an old folksong running through my head that is sung by Sianiad O’Connor. Its called My Singing Bird. She was regarded as one of Irelands best singing birds of my generation. I used to sing this song myself and will go back to doing so again when we return to our monthly folk song get together in Glenfarne – last Thursday of each month..
When I stop and listen to the birdsong in the garden which on a sunny day fills the space I am reminded of the poem by a favorite poet Rumi.
Birdsong
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!
Rumi.
This is a mindful reminder to myself that when I listen to the birdsong to remember the longing of my heart to have Divine Intention play its universal song through me. In a way it does this through the development of this garden of grace and allowing.
Vegetables and Fruit
Gooseberry bush producing fruits – Late June
Much of last week was about weeding around the apple trees and the fruit bushes. This week it is about taking a walk into that space to delight in the way in which the fruit bushes are producing fruits. One of the tasks I have this coming week is to research what to do with gooseberries.
The fruits I love to see coming into fruitition include:-
· Tayberries.
· Blackcurrents.
· Rasberries.
· Gooseberries
· Strawberries.
There is likely to be an exploration this year of making jams. I talked to Bee about making some “gooseberry fool” and “raspberry fool” but there was a resistance to that idea because of the amount of cream needed. Still what’s one or two treats of fruit with lashings of cream.
The Vegetable Garden
Planting Carrots late June
This week I put in another raised bed of carrots using Suttons carrot tape which is so easy to use. The way in which I do this gets great results.
1. Weed the raised bed and turn over the soil.
2. Add a bag of well rotted manure. I buy single bags from the garden centre.
3. Add a bag of perlite which I also buy from the garden centre.
4. Mix well so that the perlite is mostly below the surface.
5. Water the raised bed throughtly.
6. Lay the carrot seed tape on the top of the soil.
7. Cover the tape with some compost.
8. Cover the whole of the raised bed with some newspaper.
9. Saturate the newspaper with water.
10. Lay something on top of the newspaper to weigh it down.
The result is that you get a lot of carrots. So there will definitely be more carrot cake (ah with more cream). There will be enough to give away to people in the village and other friends. Make sure that you keep the newspaper wet. It will dry out quickly especially on windy days and warm days. Every couple of days have a look to see if you can see the carrot seedlings begin to appear.
St. Bridget’s Garden
St Bridgits Cloak Project Invitation
This week Bee has been continuing her project with Morag around creating a St. Bridgits cloak. When I drove her to the workshop yesterday I went on to Enniskillen and I usually pop into the Ashwood Garden centre on my way back to Cordressagagh.
I discovered a honeysuckle plant which I bought and plan to plant at the back of the St. Bridgits garden where there is one already growing. This will in time allow the whole of the bamboo cane fence to be filled with honeysuckle and the attendant scent.
I also noticed in the garden centre that they have an ivy that I love called “Paddy’s Pride.” This is a broad leafed ivy that combines well with the honeysuckle and also has the advantage of giving color during the winter. So I will be buying more of that next time I am in Enniskillen.
In the St. Bridgets garden the jasmine continues to grow so toward the middle or end of summer and together with the sweetpea we should have a really sensational garden to sit in. This I love.
Long Lasting Labels Idea
Long lasting plant labels for raised beds in vegetable garden
This winter we had issues with large holes in the roof of the cottage. Thanks to Seamus and Tina for coming to the resue. The result was that we have had various pieces of bangor slate lying around the back of the cottage.
So Bee had the idea of creating some large labels for the various raised beds. Shown above are some of the vegetables which are growing here in Cordressagagh. We will be doing more labels for the celery, beetroot, rhubarb and brussel sprouts.
As you might begin to notice there is a lot of food soon to be harvested. The only thing that hasn’t worked this year is the planting of the broad beans. I think given the amount of rain we have had they have rotted in the ground.
I think this morning I will plant up a tray of French climbing beans which I love and have done well in the past. If I plant them in trays and then plant them on that should work.
The Labyrinth Project
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
This morning or this afternoon I will begin to layout the space for the labyrinth. I bought a long length of water hose to pin down as an idea for an outline. This will allow me too decide on the final size of the labyrinth.
I bought a packet of galvanized pegs that I can stick into the ground to hold in place the water hose which I can then layout as a boundary for the actual labyrinth.
In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh,
Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet. - Thich Nhat Hanh.
Walking the labyrinth is an invitation to experience life with the same reverence, mindfulness, and grace. It is a journey that, though it may wind and curve, ultimately leads us back to ourselves, enriched and transformed by the sacred dance of walking the labyrinth.
Conclusion
Mindfulness of the Treasure Within You
https://on.soundcloud.com/3u3xZZzwkSWv24oe8
As the Mindful Gardener I am always inviting you to tend your inner garden. I do this in different ways. One of these ways is by way of storytelling. So I uploaded a story I tell about Learning to Treasure the REAL You. It’s a story that I will be unfolding in another Substack that I am presently developing.
The little black cat has moved from what I call “Heart parking” to sleep on the pillow. This is her safe place. The room is still quite and I will now move into the day. I will begin by photographing some of the items I reference in this newsletter. One of the mindful practices I love to engage with now is to take the camera into the garden and record its unfolding beauty. Thanks to Mike McCann for the gift of the camera.
So that is this weeks Mindful Gardening Newsletter. Have a great week and remember to be a Companion of Greatness and garden the magnificence of the Presence within you that has loved you all your life and KNOWS you by heart (Love after Love – Derek Walcott).