Transformation in the Garden

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 stillness there is movement, change, and transformation.

Paying attention to what has shifted and what is emerging is something most gardeners do routinely. We pay attention because we are waiting for seedlings to pop up or fruit to form. And we pay attention because there may be an emerging problem, like slugs or beetles.

But two mornings ago, I made a delightful discovery. The Hopi Red Dye amaranth that I planted this year has just started to develop plumes.  The plants themselves are already five feet tall. The plumes, when they are completely unfurled, will add another few feet to the plants. But now they are so small you wouldn’t notice them unless you were paying attention. As they start to emerge, they resemble tiny fuzzy dragons just pushing out of their caves.  Seeing them for the first time this year absolutely made my day!

We tend to notice things when they are fully formed and showy. For example, sunflowers grab our attention with their height and large vibrant display. But the sunflower buds have a different kind of beauty.  They look like green candy kisses and they change moment to moment in their transformation to a flower.

Paying attention to the transition and the flowing energy is a great practice for the garden and the rest of our lives as well. Everything is in a state of transitioning into something else. Remembering this is especially helpful if we are feeling stuck with any situation in our lives. In reality there can be no “stuckness”.  Everything is in a state of motion and transformation. If we pay attention we can rest in that awareness.

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