I am writing this article two weeks before Christmas and wondering what gardening wisdom I can share with you that is in keeping with the spirit of the holidays.
It got me thinking about the days leading up to Christmas, which may be filled with stress and anxiety.
We worry about selecting the perfect gifts, choosing the perfect menus, throwing the perfect holiday party, and decorating the perfect tree, leaving us worn out, disillusioned, and even a bit cranky by the time Christmas arrives. Social media adds to this toxic mix of striving for perfection by showing us its vision of the perfect holiday.
Though we can agree that none of what we strive for is what Christmas is all about, we find it difficult to imagine Christmas without all the preparations.
And yet it is not so much the things we do to prepare for the holidays as the people we do it for that gives Christmas its meaning.
After all the presents are opened and dinner enjoyed, it is spending time with family and friends that is the true gift of the season, not all the preparations that preceded it. That led me to think about the sometimes hidden or forgotten gifts that nature provides every day throughout the seasons without any fuss, preparation, or stress.
In the spring, after a long winter, we get to enjoy the greening of our world. Trees start budding, early spring bulbs begin blooming, birds start singing again, and the smell of lilacs fills the air.
In the summer we find relief from the heat in the cool shade of a maple tree or a dip in the lake. The seeds planted and nurtured in our gardens reward us with flowers, vegetables, herbs, and fruit.
Fall brings cooler temperatures along with glowing colors as the leaves begin their annual show. The light in the fall is one of my favorite things about this season of change. It makes everything just glow.
Winter brings snow and cold, but also a deep sense of peace. There is beauty in snow-covered trees, or the way the sun can turn a white, snow-covered expanse into a glittering field of diamonds. These are just a few of the gifts nature freely gives.
My wish for all of us this holiday season and beyond is to open our minds and hearts to the remarkable gifts that nature gives us every day. Slow down, appreciate, enjoy, and protect them. Hold your loved ones close and take time to be still and be present. Sometimes slowing down is the best gift we can give ourselves and others. Merry Christmas!