#1 – March 2019: the healing garden
There were four Canadian honkers on the shores of Margaret’s Creek this morning. The biggest one stood very tall and majestic while the other three hovered close by. A little squirrel scampered down one tree and up another. There was that distinctive subtle scent of skunk that old hippies find so pleasant, mingled with the morning freshness that follows a good rain. The blue birds and cardinals added their accent of color to the stark barren landscape of winter. I am so grateful for this beautiful spot in nature.
I love this land and love sharing it with others. I hope many of you will not only check out the wabi wellness center on our web site, but also visit in person. I have a dream– a dream of colorful gardens that nurture those who interact with them. May they experience the peace and joy of nature an its healing potential. I remember lala grandma, as we affectionately referred to this family elder, saying to me once, “this place must be really good for you because it is so green.” I have never forgotten those words nor the wise women from whom I came.
So back to my dream, it is inspired by a fairly recent addition to Lake Lure in North Carolina, the flowering bridge. My dad bought time shares there some 35 years ago and I still visit once a year. Going there brings comfort. It is like going home because it makes me feel close to my parents who have been long gone from this world. I still hang out with my mom on the back deck and find calm solace in her wise presence.
About five years ago when driving into the town of Lake Lure, I noticed a new attraction being developed on the corner that used to go back to where they filmed parts of Dirty Dancing. While a newer bridge led into town, the old one was still standing. Rather than tearing it down, it had been turned it into a community project of gardens called the flowering bridge. I have watched it grow and expand over the past five years and it never ceases to bring a happy smile of delight.
A path flows openly from one end to the other and various side attractions have been added over the years. There are lots of little theme gardens but what I love most are all the colorful and interesting non living items found interspersed among the plants. There are doors that lead nowhere, teapots overflowing with vines, boots filled with hens and chickens, statues, wind chimes, bird houses, garden ornaments, and more. I love the recognition of volunteers, a tree made of branches with each leaf imprinted with the name of those who have contributed to this project. The bricks lining the walkway are engraved with names honoring the various financial donors.
My dream is to develop healing gardens here at the wabi wellness center. I want to plant the seed for growing a peaceful, colorful, fragrant space that benefits all who visit here. I envision a variety of gardens created by community members and organizations that express myriad aspects- colorful flowers of spring daffodils, tulips, iris and peonies; summer dahlias, day lilies, hostas, roses, and canna lilies; autumn mums, golden rod, joe pye, and iron weed; succulents of cactus, aloe, yucca, and hens and chickens; fragrant culinary herbs; woodland plants of ferns, jack in the pulpit, bloodroot, wild ginger and trillium; forest medicinals of ginseng, golden seal, and wild yam; a respiratory garden of sage, mullein, and elecampagne; a stress relief space of st. john’s wart, valerian, skullcap, and chamomile; and on and on. The possibilities are endless and I already have the start of many of these. What I don’t have is the time and energy to do all of this myself.
What I love most about plants is that they can be divided, dug up and shared, spreading their presence for the joy and delight of others. I am most grateful to all those who have made the gardens here possible so far. Thanks to all those who have given freely of their own plants and in turn, when these need thinned, they can be passed on to others as well.
The goal is for this to be a community effort for the community to enjoy. If you are interested in being involved in this project by volunteering time, adopting a specific garden space as an individual or group, or donating plants or compost or mulch, please email me at hhherbals@yahoo.com thanks and may the plants flourish and bring joy and peace to all. Blessings, cindy