Abundance in the Garden of Gratitude.

The Garden of Gratitude March 30, 2014

Abundance in the Garden of Gratitude.

     Yesterday, I harvested 3 varieties of lettuce, the first of the non-gmo potatoes, the last of the broccoli and the many varieties of peas as well as carrots, peppers, radishes, tomatoes, moringa leaves, kale and onions. Neighbors were posting warnings of sightings of large birds of prey nearby, like the Great Horned Owls, an extremely, large Harris Hawk that some people think is an eagle, falcons and the two smaller Red Tailed Hawks that perch in a large Allepo Pine that can be seen from my Garden of Gratitude in my backyard.
      Today, in the early morning, I picked many varieties of swiss chard and lettuce to give away to church members as my neighbors have received all they can eat. I still have a crate of fresh picked Arizona Sweet Oranges harvested from my neighbor's tree. Then I saw five Hummingbirds and one that started to do his circular mating dance for the first time this spring. Brightly, colored Lessor Goldfinches were eating the seeds from the sunflowers. 

     Adding to the ambiance, I heard the buzzing sound of  large honey bees everywhere as they collecting nectar from the pink poppies as well as the collective sounds from all types of  birds singing, like a flock of chattering, feral Peached-faced Love Parrots and the trills from the common House Wren's songs.... If you add the sweet fragrance of Sweet Peas permeating the atmosphere and the first bloom of the pure, white flower of the Sacred Datura you know that you are mindful of the moment and the beauty of the diversity of life..

I am mindful....  I am grateful... of all that is present in the Garden of Gratitude.

Aloe variegata attracts Hummingbirds

 Aloe variegata, attracts Hummingbirds

Aloe variegata is called the Partridge Breast Aloe, Tiger Aloe or  'Kannie dood' which means 'cannot die'. It is native to South Africa and Nambia and spread around the world as a house plant. I likes semi arid to arid climates and flowers most of the year in Phoenix, Arizona.  It has much the same medicinal properties as the well-known Aloe Vera plant and can be used internally as a antimicrobial and it relieves discomfort and help heal skin irritations (ex burns and shingles).

Many beliefs are attached to this delightful species which was described as early as 1658. It is said that some indigenous people to this day, hang plants inside the huts of young women and if the plant flowers, this indicates that the women is fertile and will have many children-the plant will flower although not in the ground or cared for, hence its name, kannie dood.. Plants are also planted on graves in the belief that it will lead to eternal life. There is no doubt that Aloe variegata is a very attractive plant for garden and container planting. Once established, it lasts for many years with little care.

Don't pick the flowers!

Don't pick the flowers!

Almost all of my Sweet Peas have white flowers except for this one. I have such gratitude for this anomaly in my Garden of Gratitude as it bore in me the inspiration to write my very first pontification on this morning. 

“If you love a flower, don’t pick it because the flower dies and ceases to be what you love. Just enjoy the smell, beauty and uniqueness of the flower until it produces seeds. Then pick, plant and nurture the seeds so you will be able to appreciate the love that you have for that flower and all the diversity that it produces."