Mindful Gardening Newsletter No 45
Reflecting on community resilience, creative adaptation, and the early signs of spring.
It’s late Sunday evening and today I got to do some gardening in the sunshine with my gardening assistant Lennon. I haven’t published this newsletter for a while now given that Bee and I were without electric power for seven days. Unfortunately, the situation goes on for our lovely neighbors and others in the community. One 92 year old lady who I love to flirt with in the village said, “Tony if it goes on, I might not make it.”
One of things I loved to see was the sense of community that I experienced by way of giving and receiving. Living with no electricity was a real challenge but I got to explore a way of being creative without access to the Internet or to radio or television. I spent most evenings in the dark before the fire playing around with a guitar, amp, microphone and looper. All these were powered by the batteries of the amp. It was really fun and after a while I found that the music started to flow, and I didn’t want to stop despite my fingers aching.
Spring Begins to Spring
Spring is beginning to show in the number of flowers that are poking their heads above ground. One of my favorite spring flowers is Winter Aconite. This is a ground cover that is some of the first flowers to appear. This plant grows in the shade and when I walk past those shady areas of the garden it’s as if there is a golden light shining out from the dark. I think of this little flower singing, “This little light of mine I’m gonna let is shine.”
I have the Quaker Bonnet primrose scattered around the garden. It reminds me of the practice of silent devotion. It sits on the bank as a kind of flower in quiet contemplation. This I divide every spring and those plants that are in the garden are the splitting of one plant.
The other little plant is called London Pride. It gets its name from the fact that during the Blitz of World War II it would self-seed and spread all over the ground. I use this as edging along paths. It too is great ground cover. In the above photo there is also some ajuga that is another great ground cover and contrasts the bronze with the green.
Planting a Hornbeam Hedge
I am creating a lawned area so that I might pitch the 7 metre bell tent for the birthday festival in late May 2025. I am planting a hedge of hornbeam on raised ridges so that they are not sitting in water. This will be accomplished with the great assistance of Lennon brother of assistant gardener Lilly (4 and almost 5). I was also assisted by the garden strimmer which I have been trying to get to work for years. It was real fun cutting the rushes that seem to be something parts of this garden specialize in.
This festival will have music, and I think I want to have a sound bath included in the bell tent but that is all to be explored. I’m hoping to have the space for the labyrinth done but that might be two ambitious. I think it will depend on the weather.
Stormy Weather Creative Endeavors
The Developing Substack Home Page
Some of you might be aware that my favorite spiritual practice is writing. I do that every morning for about an hour following tuning into what the New Thought write Ralph Waldo Thrine referred to as Being in Tune with the Infinite.
This year in 2025 I am going to publish more newsletters on Substack. This will include: -
• Bringing Heaven to Earth – Journey to the Revelation of the TRUE SELF.
• A Creative Life – Sharing reflections and challenges of being a creative.
• The Deep Heart’s Core – The Hero’s Journey from an Irish perspective.
• Chakra Yoga – The journey from the self to the SELF – Patanjali.
This seems a lot but for me it is doable given that I love these topics and have been writing about most of them for twenty years. There is more about these newsletters on the Substack About page.
Conclusion
As we conclude this edition of the Mindful Gardening Newsletter, I reflect on the resilience and creativity that challenges can inspire. The recent power outage reminded me of the strength within our community and the joy found in simple, creative pursuits. in the garden, the emergence of winter aconite and Quaker Bonnet primrose heralds the arrival of spring, symbolizing hope and renewal these blossoms, shining brightly from the shadows, encourage us to let our own light shine, even in adversity.
Inside every one of us is a garden, and every practitioner has to go back to their garden and take care of it. Maybe in the past, you left it untended for a long time. You should know exactly what is going on in your own garden and try to put everything in order. Restore the beauty; restore the harmony in your garden. – Thich Nhat Hanh – Buddhist Monk.
Looking ahead, I'm excited about the upcoming projects, including the hornbeam hedge and preparations for the May festival. These endeavors, along with my renewed commitment to writing and sharing through Substack, fill me with anticipation for the growth and connections they will foster. Thank you for joining me on this journey. May your own gardens, both literal and metaphorical, flourish with the promise of spring.
Tony Cuckson – Cordressagagh - Ireland