Nature's Healing Power, and Emily And The Cultivators

Plant and flower gardening is a big operation around the Meyer household, it just doesn't typically include my participation. Cathy tried golf for one summer but seemingly couldn't bring herself to harm a blade of grass with her club. Nearly every swing was the same; easy and smooth with the club blade gliding perpendicular, about one and a half inches above the grass, and almost perfectly over the top of the golf ball. Averaging easily a dozen strokes per hole, (not including the holes where she picked up) Cathy mastered the ability of "topping" the ball.

After being barred from playing the Sun Prairie golf course (Country Club in name only) for wearing a new, and pretty, sleeveless golf shirt (women with no sleeves are not allowed, men in cutoffs and tank top t-shirts are permitted) Cathy conceded defeat at the hands of the sport of perpetual aggravation, and returned to gardening with a passion void of frustration.

We have no less than six flower beds on this 1/2 acre lot (there is room for the house and some woods too). One bed is rimmed with a brick border built completely by Aaron as a Mother's day gift a few years ago. That project is all Aaron. He worked on it with peace, happiness, anger, frustration, procrastination, speed, care, and lots of heart. When he finally finished the job he was proud of his work. Cathy was pleased then and blessed for having it today.

The beds include plants from all times and places of our life. Remarkable when you get right down to it, and amazingly beautiful with seasonal changing plants.

Sunday morning was showing signs of a fine Wisconsin summer day following a needed summer evening thunder storm. Each morning, at our house begins with a reality check for Cathy, Patrick and myself. In our own ways we acknowledge the fact that the nightmare of losing Aaron is part of our life and will be part of the new day. Sometimes we move on without anguish and other times one, or more of us, struggles to move. Sunday was Cathy's time to reflect and cry. Even we don't have answers for eachother, so we hug, hold, and just be there.

When the most difficult time passed, as they all eventually do, and Cathy was able to breathe again, we decided to take a walk in the yard and see the plants, birds, animals, and feel the new sunshine. We've done this unknown numbers of times and this time was different. The far Northeast corner of our yard is a low area which collects water and the most sunlight. Usually an area we ignore, except for a vegetable garden in 1992, we saw this spot as ideal for a water-plant garden.

Cathy agreed that I could build the water-plant garden if I would first study up on the topic. Say no more. Cathy's "bible" is Treasury of Gardening, Copyright 1994, and I went right to school. I studied page 434 Planning A Water Garden, and I set to work on digging up the turf. By sundown I had an impressive garden area free of grass, weeds, roots, and our Television/computer cable which was disguised as a black root six inches below the surface. Cathy and I survived the 20 hours of no TV or internet, Patrick needs therapy.

By 6:00PM this evening, I was the proud parent of a uniquely designed water garden with 10 or so plants, in black porous soil of 6.5 PH, mixed with a large bag of peat moss, and topped off with a pond in the shape of a Holy Trinity symbol (looks much like a 3 leafed clover and matches the tatoo I have in honor of Cathy, Patrick, and Aaron). In a moment of tranquiltiy, I clearly felt Aaron showing me how the NW corner of the garden was shaping up perfectly for a three leafed pond. The shape was there and all I did was finish the art with a shovel.

After two hot days of digging in the dirt, on my hands and knees mixing moss, water, and dirt with my hands, I know I am closer to nature, God, and my family. Does my back hurt? Actually, no. Remember when we were in grade school, and spent more than half of the summer hours exploring the world on our knees or prone? I think there is something kids know intuitively and we forgot: it is good for body and soul to have our heads closer to the ground than to the sky.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow to see what life will mean to my water garden, my family, and me.

With dirt under my finger nails, gratitude to Cathy's gardening love, Patrick's encouragement, and Aaron's guidance, we know have the "Garden of Serenity and Reflection". There's more to do but it's ready to admire. Check back for photos.

Oh, I should also recognize Emily Schmidt, of Emily And The Cultivators for her inspiration. This charming young person, she's so tiny, an organic farmer, grows the most delicious veggies. Anyone in the area can share in her abundance by visiting the East Side Farmers Market off Willy Street on Tuesdays, between 4 and 7. Emily shares with us the essence of being; being a farmer, being in nature, being good to earth, being kind to people. We met Emily through her Mom and Dad. Emily is an abundant person to know. Take some time to meet her.

Peace and Good Gardening.

Tom