Bounty

Bounty

Today was sunny, and in November in Michigan I want to embrace every minute of solar warmth and spend time in my garden. Outside I surveyed the plants that had survived last night's frost and realized I had an abundance of robust catnip that not only survived the frost but was looking pretty happy about it. It's the second or third new growth of the summer on these plants having been cut back a few times. And by the looks of it, I have enough catnip to supply my cats for the next 20-30 years. I never planted any of it but let most of it grow where it wants to. It's a beautiful plant, throughout the summer with its lavender flowers and minty scent, and it’s such a great plant for pollinators keeping it all a-buzz when in blossom. Seeing such an abundance of catnip this year I have begun to suspect my slightly addicted cats of planning on opening a dispensary soon.

My garden is a delight to me always, and late Autumn is no exception. Yes, years of “work” have gone into creating beds and caring for plants, but maybe my favorite thing is just to observe how the plants move around my yard and to see what new plants show up that I didn’t plant. And show up they do! Maybe it’s because I have put my hands in the soil so many times and had so many prayers on this land but when I need something the garden provides in beautiful, unexpected ways.

I fractured my foot this fall and out of the blue I had several Boneset plants as big as small bushes show up! Boneset is a plant traditionally used for healing fractured bones like its name would indicate: bone-set. My Comfrey, also traditionally used to mend bones, additionally grew inordinately strong, spreading far beyond its normal size. What I have learned is that if I am paying attention, help will often show up when I need it.

I planted a few seeds last June and then ended up spending the entire summer in the upper peninsula on the north shore of Lake Michigan. When I returned home in mid-September I had butternut squash and pumpkins growing up my grapevine trellis, additionally the beds contained beets, corn, herbs and of course, a lot of weeds. Considering I wasn’t here to weed and care for my plants, I had quite a harvest.

This is what I have found to be true: the bounty of this Earth gives and gives, whether it’s your garden or community, when you need help, look around and perhaps you will see your helpers looking back at you! When life is good, give back and remember to plant seeds!

Nature is listening to your needs and as she has always done, she responds with healing and sympathetic balancing energies. When she can’t get to you because you are inside or living in a dense urban desert, the gift of Flower essences from Nature can help to bring you the peace, emotional healing, and harmony you need.

Have a truly blessed Thanksgiving.

Lots of love 

Merri