Seeing what I see
Beautiful morning after a rainy night. Chilly outside early. Everything was sparkling with raindrops.
Today picking raspberries in the fruit yard, I was thinking about what I see there. Sam usually picks raspberries, but today I did. I found the fruit yard disturbing because all I could see was the disorder, all the work that needed to be done. Raspberries sprouting up up everywhere, outside the beds. Strawberry bed filled with weeds, choking out the berries. The weeds were merrily taking over the whole area. I thought – well, when I’m in the garden, I see the rows, how the plants are doing, what needs to be done to make it beautiful and productive to me. When Sam’s in the garden, he’s like a hunter, he sees the food. I can be like that just for now.
Then on thinking more, I realized I see plants next to each other. Their forms and colors. I find it very attractive. Most of the time, the pairs are accidental.
When I walk in the neighborhood, I am starting to see guilds. I learned this lovely term from the Wild Seed Project’s publications. It means basically plants that do well together. Similar soil and moisture preference, light requirements, growth rates.
“…when they grow in combinations of at least three species – forming a guild, a beautiful patchwork of foliage textures and blooms that offer interest throughout the growing season.”* I love that they use the word patchwork to describe the effect!
*Quote from Wild Seed Project’s Native Ground Covers for Northeast Landscapes.
I love the word/concept of “guild.” The borage photo is stunning. I struggle not to be overwhelmed by the work needing to be done, thereby missing the beauty. My husband Robert reminds me that it’s more “graceful” to see the beauty. That concept is helping me.
I can easily feel overwhelmed. After years of gardening, I realize I can only do what I can do in one day. I can still miss the beauty. It helps me to take photos. I like thinking “graceful.”
Ooh…a new meaning for “guild”! I’ll look for that when out and about.
It gives a whole new dimension to the plant world.
I love the guild concept … which reminds me of the Native American three sisters (squash, maize and beans)
the colors in the borage and red lettuce are all the more vibrant being next to each other
Yes, the three sisters!
THIS is what i meant when i made that comment about your Garden….
your Garden is not really YOUR Garden, it is Garden. a PlaceBeing that partners with you…i think with the above….
You are one of the Guild….is this not a Beauty Full thought?
Your Garden DOES have order…in many of your photographs i see this but it also, more importantly to me, has Will and Life…
Agency that cannot be contained.
it is not a display. a display of human ego, it is a Being and in your case, so so Giving, Fruitfull
I love your Garden
Love this view, Grace.
I never thought of myself as one of the guild, thank you for that thought, Grace!