The sweet fragrance of basil (Ocimum basilicum) is filling up my kitchen as I make some final batches of pesto before summer ends. (Click here for my vegan pesto recipe.) From pizza, to sauces, to pesto, most people know basil as a culinary herb. But it has been used as a medicinal herb … Read more
It’s that time of year when the garden is a tad out of control. Pumpkin vines have invaded the apple tree and pumpkins are hanging among the apples. Amaranth is leaning against the fence because it can no longer support the huge plumes. Some of the sunflowers have fallen over in the wind, … Read more
The Ancestor Connection My love of gardening comes from my parents and before that my grandparents. There is definitely an ancestor connection to caring for green things. And this year I can’t look at my tiny espaliered apple tree without thinking of my father. My dad tended apple and pear trees for as long as … Read more
Moving Beyond Labels Seeing with Fresh Eyes is an accessible mindfulness practice of shifting focus to see what’s before us. It’s accessible but not always easy because words get in the way. Language has obviously been a great boon for human development. However, it creates a barrier to the here and now. … Read more
Calendula Officinalis The mindfulness word for the week is constancy, inspired by Calendula flowers overflowing in my yard. We’ll get to the “constancy” part of the plant in a moment, but first here is a little bit of information about this healing plant. About the Herb Calendula (Calendula officinalis), sometimes called pot marigold, is an … Read more
Whimsy is this week’s mindfulness focus, inspired by Beebalm (Monarda didyma), now flowering in my garden. Whimsy includes playfulness and amusement. And Beebalm certainly has those characteristics. The flower tops “… resemble unkempt mopheads,” according to the Missouri Plant Finder website. I have always thought they looked like Dr. Seuss characters, little creatures with tufts on their … Read more
The word surrender often has negative connotations. We have lost; we are quitting or admitting defeat. And yet there are countless times surrender can be the healthy choice. In the garden, I have had to surrender to the fact that plants I grew successfully in Pennsylvania are stressed by the Colorado environment. … Read more
Movement and Transformation I love to wander through the garden at the height of summer, especially in the morning. There is a moment where the chaos of the day hasn’t yet intruded. It’s a time to drink in the lushness and beauty of the garden, as well as the stillness. But even in the seeming … Read more
Lavender, Usefulness and Tranquility Too Lavender plants flowering in four different parts of my yard are the inspiration for this week’s mindfulness focus – tranquility. If you are not familiar with the lavender plant, you are surely familiar with its fragrance. The scent of lavender reduces stress and promotes tranquility. And it … Read more
I am overrun with golden raspberries and can’t pick them fast enough. A great problem to have, I know! They are one of the most prolific plants in my garden – and so easy! I’ve grown the Fall Gold variety in Pennsylvania and now in Denver and they seem pretty happy in both … Read more
