Category Archives: Life

Adapt and Thrive

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As I look back over 2017, it was without a doubt an atypical year for our world, our country, and our home. The saying, “adapt or die,” comes to mind but it makes more sense to me if I reword it “adapt and thrive.” It tends to resonate better for me, although I do indeed respect the original saying.

There is no way I can digest and respond to what has been going on in our world right now, it is too over whelming to tackle but I can focus on a small piece of our lives. This year, I’ve had very little time to focus on the natural world and harvesting herbs except for a couple of moments I stole here and there. With that said, Mike created a wonderful little nursery at our new home for some of my plant allies to move into.  Although, they had a very late start, they do appear to be adapting to their new home and thriving beyond my expectations. Some are even to starting to flower in mid-October!

After I transplanted Arnica (Arnica spp.), it appeared to wither, so I decided to cut off the tops, hoping it would help it concentrate on establishing its roots. For a month, it looked dead, except for a little leaf here or there emerging from the soil. Now it appears that it has settled in and enjoys its new home. It is leafing out nicely, I would be surprised if it flowers this year, but I’m looking forward to it spreading out in 2018.

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) seemed to make itself at home instantaneously. I didn’t have to provide much support except water during our dry periods.

Three years ago, I transplanted St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatumin) to my old garden. It didn’t come back until this spring, and it did robustly. I collected flowers daily until I moved some of it to our new nursery. It continued to send out flowers but I did not harvest any, allowing it to get acclimated to its new home. Well, it must like its new home, because it is now sending out fresh new aerial parts. I am mentally prepared to wait a couple of seasons before it revisits the nursery but hopeful that it will return next year.

When I moved to a little cottage in the woods in 1998, I became enamored with Spearmint (Mentha spicata). It was growing right outside my front door. After a summer of adding it to my water, sun tea and random dishes, I couldn’t imagine life without it. It really brightens up the day and I have been planting a little stem at each new home since. Spearmint is a rather vigorous plant, and you really don’t need much for it to get established. Perhaps it was not prudent to put it into our nursery as our little plant is really thriving, but we can always find it a new home on the land next year.

A dear friend gifted me Calendula (Calendula officinalis) seeds and although they had a very slow start, they are now sending out lots of lovely orange blossoms. I am hoping they self-seed next year.

Although the new house’s gardens had Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) already, I needed to bring some with me. I cut the aerial parts so it could concentrate on establishing roots. I am overwhelmed that it is already sending out flowers.

Mike was planting Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) seeds for his orchard garden, so I took a couple seedlings for the nursery. Besides its medicinal qualities, it’s a great asset to any garden, as its root secretions will activate the disease resistance of nearby plants; and it intensifies the medicinal actions of other herbs.

Mike also planted some Tulsi, a.k.a Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) seedlings that I transplanted into the garden, which has started to flower. I love how the bees’ pollen sacs are bright red from visiting the Tulsi.

Although, I didn’t have much time to spend with herbs this year, I am overwhelmed with their ability to thrive in our little nursery. I cannot wait to spend more time with them in 2018.

60%

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During the first year or so of Mathew’s life, I came to the realization that at least 60% of his personality was formed in utero; perhaps even more. I spent hours watching him interacting with the world in his own personal way, on his own terms. It was fascinating, and I loved observing him move around the world, exploring it; everything he did had such bold intention. I tried my best not to take the lead and simply support his endeavors. When we went to the playground, I sat and watched, similar to an anthropologist, hoping not to change behaviors of their subjects. At times, I would hear, “Where is that boy’s Mom?” They thought he was abandoned. It made me giggle.

I came up with 60%, because life does happen and events and interactions do contribute to shape our personalities. However, there are certainly some core basic characteristics that we own and are solid part of our personalities from the very beginning.  Of course, this figure is my belief based on observations and nothing more. When I look at the lives and directions my brothers and myself have taken, it without a doubt validates this belief. Simply visualize a central point and draw 3 arrows, one proceeding north, one east and one west; you will get a picture of the different paths we have taken in our lives, even though we were all raised in the same loving home.

When I look back to my first memories, they are filled with dreams of exploring and adventures. I have always looked at the earth as my home and yearned to explore every part of it. During the first 7 years of my life, I lived on a very friendly street in Long Island. My exploration started with my block, I was known to walk into neighbors’ houses and make myself at home. Thank goodness everyone knew me and tolerated this behavior ~ a friendly and loving street indeed. I went to a block reunion years later and many of my old neighbors had stories of finding me in their homes, just checking things out or getting something to eat. I distinctly remember feeling that there were no boundaries; it was my block, my home and I was checking everything out. When I was around 5 years old, I dreamed of hiking down the block and building an igloo on the corner house’s lawn and living in it. I was preoccupied with designing and building this igloo. I can still remember it vividly. For my 6th birthday, my brother gave me a suitcase. Yes, a strange gift indeed, or perhaps he was telling me something? Regardless, I loved it; it had big purple flowers all over it. One day I packed it with my favorite blanket and headed towards the backyard. My Mom asked me what I was doing. I said, “Going out to play.” I walked into the backyard and climbed over the fence and started walking, I was going to explore the world. I wasn’t running away, I was going towards adventure.

Later we moved to a house in the woods. I spent my days exploring our backyard and following our stream for miles with my dog. These are just a few of my early memories of exploring.  I have not changed. I still look at the earth has my home and desire to explore it all to find out what’s here and there.

After 13 years, Mathew still moves around in the same bold way, but his preference and exploration is more focused on interacting with the cyber world. If he was left alone, I am not sure he would choose to explore anything else. The cyber world appears to possess infinite possibilities. I am happy to say that he can be still change gears and enjoy the natural wonders that our planet has to offer as well. Although, I do no share his fascination with the cyber world we do share the exploration of our wonderful planet.