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A Joyful Noise

gardening

GARDENTOPIA, by Jan Johnsen

April 3, 2019 by Melodye Shore

It’s an honor to present yet another gardener’s resource, put to print by landscaper designer Jan Johnsen. Whether you have a small patio garden or expansive acreage, you’ll find lots of inspiration in her brand-new book, GARDENTOPIA: Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces.*

Jan’s writing style is breezy, and her illustrations are dreamy. But make no mistake: This book is chock-full of substantial, ingenious ideas that come from years of accumulated knowledge and experience. 

From visualizing the finished garden, to gathering materials and getting down to work, Jan covers beautifully every facet of what it means to create an outdoor oasis.  As with her previous books, she carefully lays the groundwork for her readers’ success, intertwining creative inspiration with practical guidance.  

Eye-catching color combinations + elevated containers = visual exclamation points  

Dream about your very own Garden of Eden, as you flip through the pages of this book. I guarantee you’ll get a better sense of what you want your garden space to look like, and be. Allow your mind and feet to wander, Jan suggests; in turn, your garden will “reveal itself in stages, hiding and offering up its delights in turn.” Over time, visitors (humans, pollinators, songbirds, etc.) will want to join you. Your garden will become your sanctuary, rewarding you with countless seasons of sensory pleasures.

I highly recommend GARDENTOPIA. It’s for novice gardeners and longtime landscapers alike. It’s pretty enough to be a coffee table decoration, but I have a feeling it won’t be long before my copy is dog-eared, highlighted, and smudged with dirt! Matter of fact, I just ordered it as a gift for a new homeowner, who’s just now developing an interest in outdoor spaces.  I know already that, like me, he’ll refer to it often, as he infuses his own landscaping (and life) style with Jan’s practical advice. 

*I first came to know about Jan Johnsen when I discovered her first book, HEAVEN IS A GARDEN, which I loved. To read my review of Jan Johnsen’s second book, click here: The Spirit of Stone: 101 Practical & Creative Stonescaping Ideas for Your Garden.)

Posted in: writing Tagged: book review, creativity, gardening, gardentopia, Jan Johnsen

Lesson from an incinerated garden: Soften your gaze

July 10, 2018 by Melodye Shore

Last week, a fire-breathing dragon swooped into my backyard garden, wreaking havoc.

It scalded these Meyer Lemons, which were just about ripe.

Sun-scalded Meyer Lemon, citrus

It was a relentless, record-breaking heatwave that scorched everything in reach.

Gardenia, heat-damaged gardenia

Healthy leaves curled in on themselves, and turned crispy brown. Rose petals got singed, and assumed grotesque shapes.

This week is all about digging up and pruning back, salvaging what I can and encouraging new growth. From here on, it’s a game of wait and see: a budding leaf, the subtle lift of a drooping plant. I’m optimistic, for the most part.

Sun-scorched camellia, high-fragrance camellia

A rascally rabbit has joined my clean-up crew–comic relief!  Butterflies drift through the yard, laying eggs that will eventually replace the caterpillars that didn’t make it.

rabbit, bunny, rascally rabbit

The urge to reproduce is strong, isn’t it? The need to set things right. But dreams don’t often translate into reality overnight.

Lesson from an incinerated garden: Soften your gaze.

hummingbird, soften your gaze, Santa Barbara Sage

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Posted in: garden, heat wave, soften your gaze, writing Tagged: butterfly, camellia, garden, gardenia, gardening, hummingbird, lessons, monarch, New Zealand Rose, rabbit, rose

A well-tended garden

March 31, 2018 by Melodye Shore

A well-tended garden is the sign of a happy heart. That’s what I think, anyway.

daisy, shasta daisy, flower, white flower

It welcomes visitors of all kinds,

rabbit, bunny, garden

and swings wide the gate to our most delicious memories. Juicy secrets, too.

tangerine, orange, garden, citrus

It heralds Spring’s arrival, and the turn of every season.

purple flower, Violet Churchu, Iochroma cranium

It’s where the seeds of our wildest dream take root, burrowing deep before they flower.

My own garden isn’t tightly curated, as you might guess. It’s a quasi-random blend of colors and textures–a joyful noise, like this blog, where order and chaos co-exist.

It’s at once a playground and a sanctuary–

garden, statue, angel, bird, garden statue

home, at the intersection of Elegant,

amaryllis, flower, garden, red flower

Everyday,

citrus, lemon, meyer lemon, raindrops

and Every-bit-as-beautiful.

goldfinch, lesser goldfinch

It makes my heart sing, when you drop by for a virtual visit! If it shows signs of neglect sometimes, it’s not because I’ve forgotten it–or you.

We’re sometimes called to tend a different garden for a while–it’s the rhythm of life, isn’t it?  In this case, I was temporarily sidelined by an injury. I can’t wait to feel the grass underneath my feet again! But even from this distance, I can watch the hummingbirds feed their hatchlings. And as the milkweed sprouts new leaves, I can recreate, in my mind’s eye, the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly, from caterpillar to chrysalis.

boot, foot, cast

I wanted to plant bulbs and flowers on Easter weekend, and to gather the first rosebuds of the season.

“Not yet,” my doctor said. So I’m resurrecting my blog instead. Moving ever forward, in joy and without judgment …It’s the gardener’s way.

hummingbird, backyard, allen's hummingbird

So tell me: how does your garden grow?

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Posted in: backyard, birds, Blogging, Boot, flowers, garden, gardening, hummingbirds, joyful noise, putting down roots, writing Tagged: blogging, bunny, daisy, gardening, hummingbird, Iochroma cranium, playground, rabbit, sanctuary, tangerine, Violet Churcu

The Wellness Garden

January 28, 2018 by Melodye Shore

I’ve admired Shawna Coronado’s work for a long while, not only for her creative approach to landscaping, but also because she believes (as I do) that when we invite visitors into our garden spaces, new friendships take root and grow.

I also admire her grit and grace. Shawna shared openly the despair she felt when she was first diagnosed with degenerative osteoarthritis, a few years back. Devastating, but she never put down her garden trowel. She instead found ways to translate her lifelong passion into new ways of being, all of which are chronicled in her latest book, The Wellness Garden: Grow, Eat, and Walk Your Way to Better Health.

In addition to dietary changes, Shawna speaks to the importance of daily walks, activities that build flexibility (such as yoga), and consistent exposure to nature and the outside world, all of which help nourish us from the inside out. And of course, she literally digs in the dirt of her therapeutic garden, taking full advantage of the nutritious foods she grows.

Photo Credit: Shawna Coronado. Used with permission.

The Wellness Garden is equally valuable to the urban hobbyist and rural farmer—it’s chock-full of ideas for growing healthy plants in large and small spaces (e.g., containers and “living walls”), composting and chemical-free gardening, building raised beds, and incorporating colorful vegetables into decorative borders.

Photo Credit: Shawna Coronado. Used with permission.

Shawna’s book is for practical, down-to-earth folks like you and me. But while she doesn’t wander into the weeds, her main assertions are backed by science. As always, her beautiful photographs invite readers to come outside and play. I handed my copy to Karen Reinhart, who visited me last week from Spokane, Washington. We savored it together, and were equally inspired. And when we put our heads together to write this blog, both of us agreed: Everyone who’s interested in health and well-being can find something of benefit in this book.

Note: I received a review copy of The Wellness Garden from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

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Posted in: and walk your way to better health, Book Reviews, garden, gardening, Shawna Coronado, Wellness Garden, writing Tagged: and walk your way to better health, book review, eat, gardening, Grow, raised beds, Shawna Coronado, The Wellness Garden, vegetable gardening

Jan Johnsen’s “Spirit of Stone,” and an Art Challenge for Earth Day

April 12, 2017 by Melodye Shore

Wow, it’s been more than a year since we started our backyard makeover! We began by replacing our thirsty lawn with drought tolerant, earth-friendly plants—envisioning, as we did, a haven for birds, bees and butterflies, and a sanctuary for us.

Salvia spires, cape fuchsia, lavender and roses…they’re sprawling across decomposed granite walkways now, perfuming the air as they reach for the skies.

Heaven must surely be a garden, or so they say. And by they, I mean me. Most of the time. Songbirds perch on the feeder, singing their little hearts out. Visual harmony, however, is still very much a work in progress.

In this next phase, I’ll expand my color palette—maybe add some splashes of yellow.  I want also to rein in the random groupings, clustering whimsical pieces and grounding the airy (read: unruly) salvia with rocks.

How to accomplish all that? I hadn’t a clue.

That’s where Jan Johnsen’s latest book, THE SPIRIT OF STONE, comes into play. Have you read it? If not, go grab yourself a copy!

In seven, beautifully illustrated chapters, Johnsen offers new and/or freshly interpreted ways to incorporate stones into your outdoor living spaces. Quick confession: I’ve never really understood the notion of hoisting huge boulders into your yard, willy-nilly, or scattering white gravel around your succulents. It doesn’t look…well, natural. But after reading this book, I’ve come to realize that a few, well-chosen rocks will add dimension–maybe also a bit of sparkle–to my flowerbeds.

Courtesy Jan Johnsen, Spirit of Stone

There are important design considerations, of course. Johnsen walks you through the options.  Rock gardens, cairns, stairs, stacking stones, accent pieces and Zen sculptures… she details the possibilities, and then shows you how to bring your favorite ideas to fruition.

I appreciated that Johnsen braided practical advice and deeper knowledge, and that she explored the ‘spiritual’ significance of rocks. Some people attach meaning to their beautiful colors, shapes, and textures. We might also see them as talismans of strength and endurance. As metaphors, they speak to us in ways that flowers cannot. As Antoine de Saint-Exupery said: “A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, being within him the image of a cathedral.”

Courtesy Jan Johnsen, Spirit of Stone

The Spirit of Stone is at once practical and spiritual, and it’s as beautiful as any coffee table book you’ll find. I’m keeping my copy handy, as I reimagine my garden landscape this spring.

And…

Because it ties in so nicely…

The Art Challenge prompt for April is Earth Day, so apropos!

Let your imagination flow like water over rocks, inspired by this global celebration of Mother Nature (with an emphasis on conservation). The rules are simple:  1) Drop a note in the comments for this entry, to let me know you’re interested.  2) Sketch, paint, make photos, embroider, knit, write a musical score, record yourself dancing…. any creative interpretation is welcome! 3) Display your work on your own blog, over Earth Day weekend (April 21-23).  4) Link it here, in the “gallery of participants” I’ll provide in an updated post.

Posted in: art, art challenge, backyard, Earth Day, flowers, garden, gardening, Jan Johnsen, rocks, Spirit of Stones, stones Tagged: art challenge, flowers, garden, gardening, Jan Johnsen, rocks, spirit of stones

The red, red robin comes bob bob bobbin’ along

September 2, 2015 by Melodye Shore

Robin_01September2015Surprise

American Robin

At the confluence of serendipity & symbolism sits this red-breasted beauty. He appeared in my backyard for the first time yesterday, a dandelion wish finally realized.

I’d search the skies above our new home for more than a year, believed beyond reason that our backyard would one day be graced by a robin’s cheerful song. And just before sunset, without advance warning or fanfare, hope perched its chubby self on my back fence.

He foraged in my flowerbed, splashed in the birdbath, and surveyed the hillside beyond our fence before flying home to his own nest. I’m hoping he’ll return, but even if he doesn’t, I’m over-the-moon happy about this visit.

 

Blog title courtesy of Dean Martin.

 

 

Posted in: birds, Flight, Home, Hope the thing with feathers, joy, nana, Nature, Photography, robin, serendipity, symbolism Tagged: birds, gardening, joy, photography, robin, serendipity, symbolism

Throwback Thursday: Paradise found

August 13, 2015 by Melodye Shore

I have arrived. I am home. –Thích Nhất Hạnh

It seems like just yesterday that the moving trucks rolled into our new driveway, but we’ve lived in this place for a little over a year, now! We’re slowly transforming our garden into a drought-friendly place; and little by little, we’re personalizing each room and emptying the boxes.

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Birds of Paradise

It’s easy to get swept up in the day-to-day minutiae, to the point that we forget to celebrate just how far we’ve traveled. Conversely, when we focus too much on the future, we eventually lose sight of the joys available to us in the here and now.

No doubt you’ve already guessed that by ‘we,’ I mean ‘me.’

Mindful as I am (or try to be), I still live on planet earth. No one’s immune to its gravitational pulls. But when the songbirds perform their morning serenades; when our kitties nap together in the afternoon sunshine; when ocean breezes drift into our backyard, and palm trees sway in the surrounding hillsides…well, now! Color me grateful, same as the day we first called this place home.

#AugustBreak2015 Photography Challenge, Day 13. The prompt for today is last year.

 

Posted in: #AugustBreak2015, gardening, joy, Nature, Photography, TBT, Thich Nhat Hahn, Throwback Thursday Tagged: birds, gardening, joy, photography, thankful thursday

No Mellow Yellow, This

August 12, 2015 by Melodye Shore

Miss Dahlia looked fierce when she was younger–a seductive flash of danger in a field of otherwise demure blossoms. But her frock was showing its age. The once vibrant petals were weathered: whipped by ocean breezes, and bleached by the midday sun.

So she tarted things up a bit.

Oh, the allure of bright yellow!  “Come on…come in,” she said, and the honeybees did just that.

Dahlia_AugustBreak2015

 #AugustBreak2015 Photography Challenge, Day 12. The word for today is yellow.

Posted in: #AugustBreak2015, gardening, honeybees, joy, Nature, Photography Tagged: bees, dahlias, gardening, honeybees, photography, pollen

Monarch Metamorphosis: As with this butterfly, it’s change that gives us wings

June 24, 2015 by Melodye Shore

We delight in the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty–Maya Angelou

I posted most of these photographs to my Facebook page, in real time, but it seems to me a miracle this grand deserves an encore performance. Enjoy!

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 April 1st. A Monarch butterfly visits the milkweed plant that I’ve tucked into a container garden, alongside a fuchsia.

 IMG_5200

April 27. I missed the egg stage altogether, but look! A Monarch caterpillar is munching the milkweed plant that its mother visited a few weeks back.

P1130544

When I first discovered it, the very hungry caterpillar was inching its way across my backyard patio, having just discarded its skin. Ever the hovercraft watchful mama, I supervised my husband as he scooped up the butterfly-to-be with gentle hands and nestled it into soil at the base of the milkweed. Nimble little thing, it climbed to the topmost branch and started nibbling.

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May 29. Cirque de Caterpillar! The J shape signals its readiness for the next phase of metamorphosis. In this photograph, it’s creating a silk pad on the underside of the fuchsia leaf, after which it’ll connect its hook-like appendage (cremaster) to the pad and twist about–an aerobatic hokey-pokey that helps ensure the cremaster is firmly attached.

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Sheer magic! The caterpillar sheds its skin one last time, revealing its fragile beauty. The chrysalis hardens and dries overnight, and by daybreak, it’s transformed itself  into a beautiful jade pendant, with a gold band around the top and gold flecks near the bottom.

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May 30. Royal Baby Watch begins!  In 9-14 days, on average, the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly will be complete. The green turns more opaque, and the golden ‘necklace’ is more pronounced. See how the tiny beads sparkle in the sunlight? Although entomologists have hypothesized about their purpose, they haven’t yet settled on an answer. Beauty sometimes exists for its own sake, am I right?

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June 12.  Although it’s now 3 days beyond the normal hatching period, I’m reminding myself that the transformation is sometimes delayed by cooler weather. Only 1% of Monarchs survive every stage of the egg-caterpillar-chrysallis-butterfly cycle. Grim statistics, but I’m wearing my rose-colored glasses.

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June 17. Well,would you look at that! Our Monarch is a full week overdue for eclosing (“hatching”), but it looks as if its royal debut is imminent! The chrysalis turned dark green this morning, and the walls are thinning. By nightfall, barely visible but unmistakable…Monarch butterfly wings.

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June 18.  I’m up at dawn, so I don’t miss anything. The chrysalis is nearly black now, but pressed against the sides as they are, the wings look like stained glass windows. I take take the full measure of the chrysalis, double-check my camera equipment, and readjust my tripod.

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June 18, 10:45 a.m. The chrysalis is inky black, but fully transparent, and you can see breaks along the bottom.

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Cracks develop along the backside first, where the wings overlap.

IMG_5472

June 18, approximately 11:45. Within the space of about a minute, the bottom of the chrysalis bursts open and the butterfly emerges, head first. He unfurls those gorgeous wings, climbs the nearest leaf, and rests there for about an hour. He’s helpless at this stage, given that his wings are wet, but never fear! I’m keeping an eye out for potential predators.

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The emptied chrysalis is the best of form and function–truly, a work of art.

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When an ocean breeze drifts through the backyard. His Royal Majesty seems to enjoy it. He turns his head from side to side, spreads and retracts his wings, clings to a fuchsia branch and wiggles his antenna.

About two hours later, he gets the urge the fly. Rough going, at first. He careens around the flowerpot. Flutter. Flap. A running start, then wheeee, he takes to the skies!

(My video’s too large to post, but you can watch his inaugural flight at this link).

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The Monarch lands on the sweet pea butterfly bush at the edge of our flowerbed. He assumes elegant poses, as if to indulge this paparazzo’s fascination. My camera’s battery runs out before his patience.

The sun is directly overhead when he takes off again–flawless wings, gliding across an impossibly blue sky. I am at once wistful and ecstatic, and grateful for the opportunity to witness this metamorphosis.

Oh, and I’m happy to report that Monarch butterfly returned to my garden again this morning. I’ll be watching for tiny eggs in my milkweed plant…

UPDATE: After reading more about Monarchs this morning, I’ve changed the gender references in this post. The black pouches and thin veining on the hind wings help identify this beautiful specimen as a male. (source).

Posted in: Butterflies, Flight, joy, metamorphosis, Nature, Photography Tagged: chrysalis, gardening, metamorphosis, milkweed, monarch butterfly

Shared with the hummingbird, a childlike sense of curiosity and wonder

May 12, 2015 by Melodye Shore

Rufous Hummingbird, my watchful backyard buddy

When we assume hummingbird consciousness, our life becomes a wonderland of sensuous delights. We live for beauty, delighting in flowers, aromas, fine mist, delicate tastes.

Hummingbirds awaken us to the beauty of the present moment. —David Carson

Posted in: birds, gardening, hummingbirds, joy, Nature, Photography, Quotes Tagged: buddhism, curiosity, david carson, gardening, hummingbirds, joy, mindfulness, rufous hummingbird, wonder
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