Goodbye, June, Hello, Pictures

If you were wandering around WeMoon and came to the main entrance of the garden, this is what you'd see. To your left, tomatoes would be tumbling out of their beds, top heavy and seven feet tall. We'd invite you to pick a few, rinse them right there and have a snack, or take them home for a tomato-cheese sandwich on whole wheat. To your right, a few Swiss Chard still going, but just for their own pleasure, as they're basically inedible due to the heat. And straight ahead, in the full-moon bed, you'd see the familiar bearded irises, but also two ginger lilies who decided to come up (finally) and a new sign welcoming you to the Spirit Gardens.



If you picked your way over the wily hose and past the weeds creeping ever closer to the crescent moon bed, you'd get to the bench. And this would be your view. In front of you, you would see that we're trying to establish a mixed Mediterraean herb and succulent bed. The succulents would be in sunk clay pots for easy removal when the frosts come. You might also admire the Georgia collard that keeps on keepin' on -- like the chard, inedible, he nonetheless seems to belong just where he is. And beyond the crescent moon bed you'd see lots more green.



If you got up to take a stroll, you'd eventually come to the separation between the spiral and the full moon bed. It would be crowded, as the wormwood and leeks like to lean over and tread on the path a bit themselves. You'd notice, though, that just behind the leeks, a happy little watermelon is trying very hard to behave and stay right in the spiral's arm. He takes direction pretty well, and even has a few little yellow flowers.



If, when you were leaving, you cast a glance over your shoulder, over the wall, before you got in your car, you might see the dahlias. They're the dark ladies of the garden, but sure do make the bees happy. To the left of the dahlias, cucumbers, and to the right, comfrey, rue, cardinal guard, and lemon balm. Behind the dahlias, very please peppermint, and some astors about to bloom.

We'd hope you had a nice visit, and bid you fare well, with an open invitation to come again any time.

Tomato Trials and Summer Solstice

On June 12, the Spirit Gardens made a showing at Turkey Hill Farm's Tomato Trials Taste Test. We were growing six of the 13 varieties tested this year; one, the Brown Berry cherry, was a real winner. It had everything you could ask for in a mouth-popper: juicy, tasty, meaty, great color. The others all finished up in the middle of the bunch. We'll be posting our logbook soon for you to see the other results. And in case you're interested, the overall winners for taste were Arkansas Traveller, Pink German, and Silvery Fur Tree.

On June 18, Robin held a plant sale on the grounds, so we acquired a few beauties to add to the garden and the areas that will be landscaped around the new ramp on the north side of the building.

That same day, Spiraling Heart Coven held a public summer solstice celebration at WeMoon. We did a real job getting the garden cleaned up for it that morning. Chores that had been put of for weeks suddenly were attacked with gusto. About 25 people showed up for the ritual, which included dancing with colorful scarves, body painting, sharing of sparkling grape juice and summer breads, and a call-and-response of things we were thankful for at midsummer. The fairies were even invited to join in, and were offered enticing milk with honey and sweetcakes.

I left the ritual full of good cheer and fellowship, but also a bit sad. After the solstice, the days begin to wane, and we move closer to the cold days and long nights of winter. And while it is perfectly natural and in good order that the wheel of time should turn and we all grow older, sometimes it just gets stuck in the back of your throat and you don't really know how you feel about it.

Many, many long, hot days lie between us and winter, though, so in the mean time, you will find us almost daily watering the garden and thankful for the sun that is still above us.

Tomatoes lost

Things didn't go exactly as planned in the garden this week.

I was not as attendant as I might have been, and when I went to check on things between rain showers today, I found that nearly 70% of our tomato crop was ravaged by worms or had fallen to the soggy ground beneath it to be ravaged by slugs. I was able to gather a small basket full to bring to the taste tests tomorrow, but I was disappointed that I had not been more vigilant in this most crucial stage.

The force of the rains had beat down many of the other plants, but to others, it was exactly what they needed. The butterfly bush, sages, impatients, nasturtiums, and marigolds all shone, and the ginger lily that was one of the very first things planted in the garden has finally made its appearance in the full moon bed.

Gardens on Display

How pleased was I this Saturday to learn that Spiraling Heart Coven is going to be using WeMoon's spaces (including the Spirit Gardens!!) for an open-to-the-public Litha ritual on June 18! I feel like the space has been aching for magic, and while women (and maybe even men) may come by other times and bless the gardens with their own presence and meditations, I actually KNOW about this one! So we're doing our best to make the garden walker-friendly. And in preparation of having more visitors, we've added a guest book to the garden's webpage in the hopes that y'all will tell us what the garden means to you!

The poison ivy is gone, and many of the plants that had kind of leaned over into the path are tied back up or pruned back. The tomatoes are being brave in the face of an onslaught of worms and caterpillars -- thanks to Paty and Bonnie for donating the organic pesticide and fertiliser. We have small zinnias coming up in the crescent moon bed as well as a few daisies, and the watermelon that we planted in the middle of the spiral seems to be quite happy. Anna planted two pretty little moonflowers on either side of the great hoop -- we're hoping to be able to train it to spiral around and climb the sides. How pretty that would be!

I am learning a lot about limitations in the garden. I find that I get tired and hungry and thirsty after just an hour of work -- it is a good reminder to eat a hearty breakfast, bring a water bottle, wear a sunhat, and take breaks! I am used to being a work horse, and this ebb and flow of vitality is totally new to me. It is a realization that I, like every other living thing, have rhythms that are best not to ignore.