I feel that "plants are people" in the way that a lot of people feel that their pets are people... I am heartbroken if I mistakenly uproot something, step on something, etc. Trees are definitely people to me and have their own dignity and value aside from what we think of them. I can hardly stand to hear or see a tree cut down, even if it's in a bad location. That said, I don't have a problem with pulling weeds. There will always be more... Also I would really love to see photos of your own garden!
Wonderful. Such a humble and gentle consideration of the power of life and death over weeds! I have no hesitation with weeds, but sometimes worry about my zeal in eliminating grasshoppers. I just finished reading Solnit's book "Orwell's Roses" and it was wonderful. It gave me a new appreciation of author and subject!
I loved your article, to see how you are blossoming in your garden. I loved the quote “he, too, was part of nature; that imposing our will on the world around us is part of being alive, that humans are not outside of the natural system.” My grandfather planted trees that did not grow to their full height in his lifetime. Enjoy!
Thank you! Yes, “blossoming in the garden” — I do think that that is part of it. Lovely story about your grandfather — and especially lovely that you know it, that that is part of his ongoing story. So beautiful.
I know what you mean about the guilt - after "No Mow May" I then have to decide whether I will destroy the insect world that's been created or let the garden turn into a jungle. At the moment am dithering about whether I can hack down ragwort (apparently they are a valuable home for moths). And apples! I feel bad about not using them and there are so many!
Exactly — all of these decisions, and figuring out where stewardship begins and ends. Love the image of an inhabited garden that this evokes.
On apple trees — mine are not at that stage yet; not big enough to bear fruit (beyond three small first apples this year) or to sit under. I suppose that I am hoping to be able to give them away when there are eventually too many, but this makes me realize that may be wishful thinking. Will try to repost here a video of ducks eating apples that a wonderful writer on Substack posted a while back.
A small apple tree can produce a huge amount, be warned! I recently planted a crab apple where the fruit are so small - but beautiful, like red berries - that I can't possibly gather them but will happily be able to let birds eat them. (Actually what happens is grey squirrels throw them off the tree and don't even eat them, but that's another story.)
As someone who finally got a garden two years ago, I really enoyed this. Coincidentally, I'm just watching Gardeners' World on the BBC and there's a feature on weeds. On the one hand, we're told that a weed is just something that's 'in the wrong place' or that 'you don't want' (which reminds me of Mary Douglas's writing on dirt as 'matter out of place'); on the other, we're given all kinds of useful advice on the benefits (medicinal, horticultural, culinary) of various weeds.
I'm glad! Yes, the term ”weed” feels wrong, when one is looking at a garden that is just a space to enjoy, as opposed to a source of food, doesn't it? I'm still grappling with it.
beautiful piece. I have yet to read the Solnit book but I am greatly looking forward to it. Gardening is such a hopeful activity and on such a great, dark day as today your piece helped me think about the joy of spring to come.
This makes me happy! I hope you know that your occasional garden photos in notes, and the Winter Garden paintings you wrote about relatively recently, have been truly inspiring: they’ve given a way to imagine the space here as more filled with life and richness.
What a joy of a read Maria, thank you so much. 'I love the notion of them feeding people far into the future' YES! And so much more here that brought pleasure
Really great Maria. Your are slowly creating your own little but fascinating universe. Congratulations.
Thank you!
I feel that "plants are people" in the way that a lot of people feel that their pets are people... I am heartbroken if I mistakenly uproot something, step on something, etc. Trees are definitely people to me and have their own dignity and value aside from what we think of them. I can hardly stand to hear or see a tree cut down, even if it's in a bad location. That said, I don't have a problem with pulling weeds. There will always be more... Also I would really love to see photos of your own garden!
Thank you! Maybe if the garden progresses 😊
Wonderful. Such a humble and gentle consideration of the power of life and death over weeds! I have no hesitation with weeds, but sometimes worry about my zeal in eliminating grasshoppers. I just finished reading Solnit's book "Orwell's Roses" and it was wonderful. It gave me a new appreciation of author and subject!
Thank you! And I loved her book too — it's a delight, isn't it?
I loved your article, to see how you are blossoming in your garden. I loved the quote “he, too, was part of nature; that imposing our will on the world around us is part of being alive, that humans are not outside of the natural system.” My grandfather planted trees that did not grow to their full height in his lifetime. Enjoy!
Thank you! Yes, “blossoming in the garden” — I do think that that is part of it. Lovely story about your grandfather — and especially lovely that you know it, that that is part of his ongoing story. So beautiful.
I know what you mean about the guilt - after "No Mow May" I then have to decide whether I will destroy the insect world that's been created or let the garden turn into a jungle. At the moment am dithering about whether I can hack down ragwort (apparently they are a valuable home for moths). And apples! I feel bad about not using them and there are so many!
Exactly — all of these decisions, and figuring out where stewardship begins and ends. Love the image of an inhabited garden that this evokes.
On apple trees — mine are not at that stage yet; not big enough to bear fruit (beyond three small first apples this year) or to sit under. I suppose that I am hoping to be able to give them away when there are eventually too many, but this makes me realize that may be wishful thinking. Will try to repost here a video of ducks eating apples that a wonderful writer on Substack posted a while back.
A small apple tree can produce a huge amount, be warned! I recently planted a crab apple where the fruit are so small - but beautiful, like red berries - that I can't possibly gather them but will happily be able to let birds eat them. (Actually what happens is grey squirrels throw them off the tree and don't even eat them, but that's another story.)
I love all of this life in the garden! Why do the squirrels bother to throw them down, do you know?
Here is the link: https://substack.com/@stillsketching/note/c-70963244?r=2u2cxe&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
As someone who finally got a garden two years ago, I really enoyed this. Coincidentally, I'm just watching Gardeners' World on the BBC and there's a feature on weeds. On the one hand, we're told that a weed is just something that's 'in the wrong place' or that 'you don't want' (which reminds me of Mary Douglas's writing on dirt as 'matter out of place'); on the other, we're given all kinds of useful advice on the benefits (medicinal, horticultural, culinary) of various weeds.
I'm glad! Yes, the term ”weed” feels wrong, when one is looking at a garden that is just a space to enjoy, as opposed to a source of food, doesn't it? I'm still grappling with it.
beautiful piece. I have yet to read the Solnit book but I am greatly looking forward to it. Gardening is such a hopeful activity and on such a great, dark day as today your piece helped me think about the joy of spring to come.
This makes me happy! I hope you know that your occasional garden photos in notes, and the Winter Garden paintings you wrote about relatively recently, have been truly inspiring: they’ve given a way to imagine the space here as more filled with life and richness.
Incidentally, I was reminded of this piece by of a beautiful post yesterday by Mark Diacono, which comes at the question of gardens from the opposite direction (from this one), and that I also found inspiring: https://open.substack.com/pub/markdiacono/p/albert-camus-fat-balls-river-phoenix?r=2u2cxe&utm_medium=ios
What a joy of a read Maria, thank you so much. 'I love the notion of them feeding people far into the future' YES! And so much more here that brought pleasure
Thank you! I’m glad.