Mindful Gardening Newsletter No 37
Planting a lawn, mushrooms and finding peace
Glad to be back writing the Mindful Gardening Newsletter now that I have been graced a replacement camera by my very great friend Michael McCann who I initiated into the art of river fishing some sixty three years and more ago. He contends that he taught me, but he was young at the time (11 years). I love having this little PowerShot camera in my pocket which allows me to take pictures which then become supports for writing parts of this newsletter.
Planting Lawn in Orchard
Planting crocus in lawn in orchard
Much of the time since I last wrote newsletter No 36 has been focused on creating lawns in various parts of the garden. One of the key aspects of creating such lawns is to plant spring bulbs which become a source of food for the birds and bees during that time. It also adds color and interest to an open space.
I’ve bought in a lot of topsoil for the purpose of seeding this lawn and have covered it for a short time in geotext so that all the seed isn’t eaten by the birds who are given a good supply of bird seed and nuts and other treats each morning. When I am late feeding them sometimes a little bluetit will come to the window and begin tapping on it as if it is sayings “Hey you where’s our grub.”
Feeding the Birds
Our favorite ceramic bird feeder
Feeding the birds is a practice I do each morning. I use ceramic bird feeders that are shaped in the shape of a beehive. As friends know there is a real bee theme both in the garden and in the house. What I like about these feeders is that they are easy to clean and fun to look at. They don’t last forever because I think the frost undermines the structure of the ceramic, but they do last for some years.
I avoid using birdfeeders that I find hard to clean because then that is what happens and then I might be creating a situation whereby I introduce disease in our beloved bird population.
Bulbs for Stewart’s Grove
Chionodoxa – Pink Giant and Narcissus Jetfire
At this time of year, I tend to buy spring bulbs in bulk. Last year I bought around 3,000. Last week an order of around 1,100 bulbs arrived and five hundred of these have gone into a 16 foot by 14 foot section of lawn.
The other six hundred bulbs which comprise Chionodoxa pink giant and narcissus Jetfire will be planted in the topsoil that I am awaiting delivery of next week. These will go behind the benches in Stewarts Grove and create a beautiful spring carpet of small pink blooms which will contrast with the brown leaves of the earth.
Planting crocus around the edge of trees in Stewart’s Grove
Planting Oyster King Mushrooms
Oyster King mushroom spores on decaying wood.
We were given a gift of oyster king mushrooms by Andrew McCann son of my great friend who owes his fishing talent to me. So, I have scattered what look like little capsules of mushroom spores in a crate of decaying wood.
I have kept this stack of decaying wood with the idea that I will use it to line more of the raised beds that I plan to create in early 2025 using recycled materials gifted by who other than my dear friend Michael McCann.
We have had a lot of different types of mushrooms grow here in Cordressagagh. We haven’t ever cooked any of these, but it will be different with these Oyster mushrooms should they eventually grow.
Mindfulness Poem
Image of Wood drake from Wikapedia
Since that time of writing the Mindful Gardening Newsletter No 36 there have been the elections in the U.S.A. As a result, I had to go to a poem that I read at times when I feel disappointed about the direction of the world.
The Peace of Wild Things – Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
The presence that I come into is the Presence that I feel when I walk into that part of the garden that is Stewart’s Grove. When I walk through one of the archways its as if I am embraced by a cloak of invisible energy that is calming and totally silent. I don’t lie down but have planted chamomile tea bags with the hope that I get to create a lawn on which I might do so.
Conclusion
Thanks’ again to my dear friend Michael for the gift of the PowerShot camera. This means that in all likelihood that I will be sending out this Mindful Gardening newsletter each week.
Reflection
The secret is not to chase butterflies… It’s to take care of the garden so that they come to you – D. Elhers.