With the new year in place, there’s lots of surprises all around. Imagine my excitement today when I came upon the honeysuckle bush getting ready to bloom. I even spied some forsythia shrubs in bloom last week. So far, a mild entry into the winter season. The daffodil bulbs are sending up their leaf tips. The hyacinth bulbs also. The deer must be enjoying the season too, with full access to the plants they love to munch on. Friends agree, they like this. No weather-related hardships or delays. We could get used to this. But of course, the weather forces have their own mind so it’ll be another interesting season to look forward to. The garden still winks at me when I pass by, reminding me that in no time at all, we will be together again, hand in hand getting things to grow. I’ve even combed over the new gardening books at the library and there’s an abundance of vegetable gardening books. I’m in! We’ll be doing lots more vegetable growing around here in the spring, so it is not too soon to start planning where, when and what. The seed catalogues are coming in now in droves, enticing us with new as well as proven varieties. Even the edible flowers category is of interest, not only to add color and fragrance to salads and such, but as a nutritional source.
I just got a new Vitamix blender. Green smoothies. Yum. Imagine all the (so-called) edible weeds that grow in my lawn, such as dandelion that can be blended along with other more palatable ingredients to create a healthy drink to start the day. Green smoothies may be a staple of the raw food movement, but its inclusion in everyone’s diet is worthwhile. Can you imagine using the edible garden weeds to feed oneself instead of eradicating them with herbicides? Honeysuckle flowers are also edible but according to experts only from the Japanese honeysuckle variety. Do consult a foraging book on weeds and wildflowers before you juice your weeds to be certain of its safety for eating.
Be on the lookout for more surprises, in the garden and in your life. There’s a lot of new things to look forward to in the new year. Begin to explore what brings you joy and contentment. Try something new that you haven’t done before, but are curious about. Listen to the new urgings calling from within. Take breath breaks – how about consciously breathing for 1 minute of every hour of your waking day? Exercise your body and feel the lightness in the body, and at the same time feel the support of the Earth below your feet. Here’s to a creative and fulfilling new year for all.