Back to the Garden by Lucia Bettler

Back to the Garden
by Lucia Bettler

No matter how you look at it, there is magic in the garden…the soothing color of new pale green shoots; the soft spring rains and tree-rustling winds that wash over us; the healing that comes when we walk with awareness.

Oh, I’m sure a botanist could explain how flowers come from seed, and how trees leaf out season after season. There would be talk of science, DNA, and genetics. Nevertheless, every spring the miracle occurs. The delicate anemones come from hard bulbs planted months ago; the ferns, symbols of energy and movement, spiral up out of the cool, brown earth; and the delicate lemon verbena delights all who witness its tiny leaves coming from what look like lifeless winter branches. It happens every spring and I am always surprised and in awe.

The ancients believed that shining spirits inhabited the trees, herbs, and flowers. They called them devas, flower fairies, and tree spirits, and their job was to help each plant remain true to its essence. In Victorian times, the fairies of the garden were thought to paint the faces on pansies, roll up the spider’s webs, and sing to the bracken on the forest floor.

In the 60’s and 70’s, a group of dedicated seekers in Scotland had visions of a magnificent garden and a community of peace and light. They worked hard at Findhorn, augmented the poor soil, and communicated with the spirits of nature who taught them the natural ways to grow plants. Their gardens are now abundant; their vegetables and flowers are huge. They taught us about true communion and partnership with the Earth.

We cannot all be expected to be so finely attuned to Nature, but we can rediscover the subtle changes in the garden as we witness the miracles of life right before our eyes.

I love to go outside late at night, after midnight. It’s a quiet time, a magic time. There’s something different about the wind. Even in the city the sounds have quieted. There’s less competition from cars and human voices, and it’s much easier to hear the Earth’s voice. The other night I swept a few leaves and oak flower catkins full of pollen off the kitchen steps. I stopped and savored the quiet, caressed the rosemary, my face upraised to the moist, cool air, anticipating much needed rain. As I did, a prayer of thanksgiving lifted up from my heart to say, “Thanks for the reminder.”

It had been a busy week: helping to plan a friend’s wedding, preparing a meal for fifty, working in our shop, getting ready for the Round Top Herb Festival.

And just what was the reminder?

It was to stop, to listen, and to remember. The earth and the garden want to remind us of who we are. Like a visit to church or temple, the herb garden gently taps us on the shoulder and the green spirits remind us of our essence and our souls that thirst.

A very gifted garden writer and herb gardening friend died this year. Not an older wiser woman, but a woman in mid-life, in her prime. Occurrences like this give us pause. But we must look to the garden. Sometimes a plant leaves us, seemingly before it is time. But whose time, then?

Nature has her own time. It was thought that the fairies could take a person to their kingdom deep within the Earth and regale them with songs and tales for a night. Upon returning, the mortal would realize that 30 years had gone by.

Time does to us what it will. We are only asked to live with awareness, to live fully and wisely. Those of us who make gardens know what a spiritual endeavor this is. The herb garden reminds us that we are a part of the Earth. Now is the time to see her and recognize the garden energy in all of us.

Take time to go to the special places in your garden. Look for signs of fairies. Listen for the Earth’s songs. Let your soul be enchanted.

Joni Mitchell said it so well in her song.

“We are stardust.
We are golden.
And we’ve got to get ourselves
Back to the Garden”.

green blessings,
Lucia

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