"Behind all seen things lies something vaster;
everything is but a path, a portal, or a window
opening onto something other than itself."
This quotation is especially suitable for this new year, another life cycle full of unknown possibilities that will reveal themselves as 2019 unfolds. The snow that turned Madison into a winter wonderland on New Year's eve is fast disappearing. Since Ann and I were in California from December 20th through January 3rd, we vicariously enjoyed the beauty of Madison's first significant snowfall through Facebook postings.
We were in the Bay area visiting our daughter Emily for a week and then on to Ojai, in Southern California, for another week. Emily moved from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Oakland in April, 2017. We so enjoyed time with her before flying to Los Angeles and eventually traveling to Ojai, about 70 miles northwest of LA. We stayed at Darrel's and Beth's home. We enjoyed and renewed our long term friendships. So easy and comfortable. Darrel and Beth picked us up at LAX and Darrell, who loves driving, took us back on January 3rd. Someone once said you know you have true friends when they pick you up at airports. Given the immensity of LAX and the traffic, Darrel's actions testifies to our strong and lasting friendship with him and Beth.
Darrel and Beth witnessed our May 25, 1979 civil wedding in the Portland, Oregon courthouse. Looking back, it was a clear, warm and sunny Oregon day full of possibilities. Many possibilities have become realities including Emily, now a woman on her own path of possibilities while she enjoys the Bay area, her circle of friends, her art work and satisfying work at Ancestry.com as a Data Quality and Governance Analyst. Ancestry's office is in San Francisco, a 45 minute commute by BART.
Emily, like her mother and father, went West in the search of new possibilities. I left Wisconsin for Oregon in 1974 and Ann moved to Portland during the summer of 1976, about six months after we met. I came home for a visit during the 1975 holidays, where we met on a blind date, and the rest is history.
Darrel and Beth witnessed our May 25, 1979 civil wedding in the Portland, Oregon courthouse. Looking back, it was a clear, warm and sunny Oregon day full of possibilities. Many possibilities have become realities including Emily, now a woman on her own path of possibilities while she enjoys the Bay area, her circle of friends, her art work and satisfying work at Ancestry.com as a Data Quality and Governance Analyst. Ancestry's office is in San Francisco, a 45 minute commute by BART.
Emily, like her mother and father, went West in the search of new possibilities. I left Wisconsin for Oregon in 1974 and Ann moved to Portland during the summer of 1976, about six months after we met. I came home for a visit during the 1975 holidays, where we met on a blind date, and the rest is history.
"Possibility" also fits the status of Prospect Gardens on this unseasonably warm and sunny Saturday, January 5th. The gardens are in a restful state. The following pictures are openings onto something else that will surely emerge as winter turns into spring.
I am wishing for more snow so the Gardens have a protective cover. These 40 plus degree days are comfortable and pleasant, yet the thawing and freezing cycle can damage roots. Plus I want to enjoy cross country skiing and I would like to try snowshoes this winter. For now both are just possibilities.
This old picket fence, bordering the northwest section of the Gardens, has witnessed many events, including the transformation of the railway into the bike path. The plant remnants will be removed during the first spring work party.
A view of the Gardens and the bike path through the bare cherry tree branches. If you look closely near the center of the picture you will notice a walker enjoying the warm day, as I did.
This cherry tree and another need to be pruned and branches turned downward to fully achieve the possibility of a more abundant crop of cherries. I learned from Percy, a Master Gardener and Prospect Garden volunteer, that the bottom branches must be weighted down to achieve a rounded shape. Another task for early spring.
This forsythia, waiting for spring, will be transformed into a golden yellow bush. It will be the first to bloom.
I just googled forsythia. I learned that its fruits are widely used in Chinese traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory and in the treatment of bacterial infections, and upper respiratory ailments. I didn't know that!
Another "window" showing a walker on the path and a shrub (bordering the wall), the North American Elderberry. A Midwest Elderberry Cooperative brochure that I pick up this summer at one of our farmers' markets lists elderberry's health benefits. The fruit is high in antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients and is a natural anti-inflammatory and an anti-viral support. The berries, according to traditional cultural practices, help against colds, flu, sore throat, coughs and bacterial and viral infections.
The brochure ends with this gentle warning: "We encourage every consumer and producer to do their own research. Each body presents its unique challenges and responds differently to various foods."
Janice, a neighbor, and her husband pick the ripe fruit. They make juice and pies. Janice shared a small bottle of the juice, which was quite tart. Janice's husband is from Germany and according to Janice, Elderberries are very plentiful near her husband's birthplace.
The remains of seedpods from a once blooming Bee Balm. The stencil figure is part of the mural at Prospect Gardens. After nine years, the mural is starting to show its age. Another section of the mural was recently tagged with graffiti. Perhaps a sign to freshen up or redesign the entire mural. The future design possibilities are endless.
I am unsure about the plant featured in this picture. Whatever, it will come back to life during spring or summer. The stencils represent the different ways the path is used.
Another "window" to the path and the wonders of the Gardens. The blue orb reminds me of plant earth. It's actually a bowling ball.
2019 has many possibilities for the Gardens as well as for our lives. May many of those possibilities be pleasant and bring joy while staying open to what is now unseen and part of the vastness of the universe.
I end with these words from our Unitarian Sunday service:
This cherry tree and another need to be pruned and branches turned downward to fully achieve the possibility of a more abundant crop of cherries. I learned from Percy, a Master Gardener and Prospect Garden volunteer, that the bottom branches must be weighted down to achieve a rounded shape. Another task for early spring.
I just googled forsythia. I learned that its fruits are widely used in Chinese traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory and in the treatment of bacterial infections, and upper respiratory ailments. I didn't know that!
The brochure ends with this gentle warning: "We encourage every consumer and producer to do their own research. Each body presents its unique challenges and responds differently to various foods."
Janice, a neighbor, and her husband pick the ripe fruit. They make juice and pies. Janice shared a small bottle of the juice, which was quite tart. Janice's husband is from Germany and according to Janice, Elderberries are very plentiful near her husband's birthplace.
2019 has many possibilities for the Gardens as well as for our lives. May many of those possibilities be pleasant and bring joy while staying open to what is now unseen and part of the vastness of the universe.
I end with these words from our Unitarian Sunday service:
"Say these words when you lie down and when you rise up...
In times of mourning and in times of joy...
Another world is possible."
Aurora Levins Moreales
No comments:
Post a Comment