Make Space for What's to Come

By Kristy Belaney

It has been far too long since I have written on this blog. Life has been, well, life. It is amazing to me how much I continue to learn, to grow, to change. Everything we come to know evolves continuously and no matter how hard we try to hold on to certain moments, it is simply not humanly possible. When we are finally able to accept that, what follows is the closest thing to peace we can have on this earth.

As gardeners, we are blessed to be in the presence of life's greatest teacher- nature. So much can be taken from our backyard paradises and applied directly to our daily lives. There is a season for all, one no more or less important than the other. Yet on the days when our gardens are full of color, buzzing with life and promise, we cherish those moments and our smiles shine the brightest. And on the days where black and white is all you can see and the stalks are stripped bare and silence surrounds you, we feel sad for the end. What we really need to focus on is how letting go, whether it be something as simple as the flowers in a garden, a feeling, a place in time, a person...
is the only sure way we can make space for what is to come.

My native garden from NOG turned 1 year old in July. The amount of life I have witnessed utilizing this tiny patch of earth has astounded and inspired me. Pollinators of all kinds, frogs, toads, birds, an entire ecosystem in the middle of the city. From my own milkweed plants and milkweed slated to be cleared and destroyed at our local beach, I collected and raised 41 beautiful Monarch butterflies this summer. I cannot express how grateful I am to watch the miraculous cycle of life these precious butterflies undergo and ultimately being the one who sets them free. They inspire me in so many ways. Letting them go is never easy but I know it is the only way to make space for more to come. 

Breathe. Smile. Enjoy each moment. Embrace the change. Everything is as it should be. 

 I wrote the poem below for my flying flowers, the inspiration behind this blog post and so much more in my life.

Inspired not without a flame

days creeping by too slow too tame
then below the ground a sleeping root did spring
shooting up from the brown a green and welcoming thing
leaves that unfurled and loosened each day
a stem reaching higher to the breeze that sways
some distance beyond a flower that flew
a weary orange flicker in a vast mighty blue
destiny awaiting a legacy to be filled
memory set in the future driven only by will
at last comes to rest upon a familiar unknown
the reasons now clear for the miles its flown
a journey now over one last breath draws in
passing the light for a new flame to begin
with this travelers demise hope has washed ashore
I hear it calling, drawing me, purpose once more
A fragrance so sweet only angels could wear
it sings it dances it's heavy in the air
led to a place earth split open a crack
life abuzz all around I turn the leaves back
a small ivory dot hidden on soft leaves a splendor
I tear it from the stalk milk bleeding the tender
from within this tiny sphere change is taking place
in a few days something different a completely new face
and days after that more changes to come
I watch and I learn my world comes undone
each time a new flame bursts forth from the jade
I relish and cherish the miracle made
that orange and black flicker my heart it does keep
a flying flower aglow with winds gentle sweep ~ KLB

Nature's Luck on St. Patrick's Day

By Kristy Belaney

I often use the hashtag #getoutside when I tweet nature related posts on Twitter. It is a simple enough concept but one that is regrettably undervalued and underutilized. Studies have proven the benefits of immersing oneself in nature, ranging from the physical aspect that hiking, cycling and gardening etc. provide to the emotional clarity, serenity and peace one can achieve from being outdoors.

Feeling particularly melancholy this St. Patrick's Day,  I decided to take a dose of my own medicine. Peeling myself off the warm couch took some effort and on the way to grab my coat a whole rush of excuses not to leave the house came flooding into my brain. Its only 34F out I thought. There is laundry that needs folding. You could be starting dinner. Thankfully I was able to brush off these pesky little notions and make my way out to the porch as I had intended. Within seconds of stepping outside, the cold air had found its way through the fabric of my coat and I almost turned back to the house. But something inside me was aching for a sign of spring and I felt compelled to find a glimmer of hope that would solidify this brutal Ohio winter was indeed coming to a close. And then without even leaving my own backyard, I received my sign.

Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar

There on the still frozen ground, lay a fuzzy black caterpillar barely moving but very much alive. Immediately enthralled by this creature, I started taking pictures and totally forgot about the temperature or that I had been sad just moments before. 

A quick Google image search and I discovered I was in the presence of a Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar. These nocturnal, widely distributed moths are non poisonous in their caterpillar stage and feed mostly on broad-leaved plants such as violets, dandelions and plantains. They are named after the beautiful spotted coloration that covers its impressive 3 inch wingspan, making this adult moth not only gorgeous but impressively sized as well. After emerging from its cocoon, the Leopard moth does not eat and only lives long enough to mate and lay eggs rarely flying before dusk. I read on to learn the caterpillar I had found was fully grown and should have been hibernating under leaves, tree bark or other debris at this time in the season. Perhaps a bird had dislodged him from his hiding place in interest of a meal or maybe he had ventured out needing an extra boost of nutrition before winter came to a close. Whatever the reason for his appearance, I felt blessed to have found this gift from nature. 

As I sat in the sun watching the birds breaking open sunflower seeds, I began to notice other tiny gifts, more subtle signs that spring was near. The dull winter plumage of the goldfinches beginning to yellow, little green shoots of wildflowers and tulips poking up through a carpet of decaying leaves and the tiny buds forming on the ends of the maple branches all made a world of difference to me. Simple, free and pure but a powerful therapy I cherish. I am so glad I took my own advice and got outside today. After just a brief period spent exploring, listening and appreciating nature I felt renewed, refreshed and ready to smile again. Which for me, made for one very lucky St. Patrick's Day.

Wildlife Habitat Winter Version

What does a Winter Suburban Wildlife Sanctuary look like? 

 

   Perhaps you are familiar with our neighbors to the north, Ken and Paula Korber's blog post on attracting wildlife into their suburban yard. Keep in mind their property is not north as in Ontario, Canada north rather a suburb north of Columbia Station and west of Cleveland, Ohio. Their blog post have covered several seasons including: Summer Sunflowers & Goldfinches, Just for fun, Hummingbird Haven, Backyard Habitat and Why Plant a Butterfly Garden? 

I am certain that you will enjoy a quick and thankfully warm glimpse into their incredible Winter Wildlife Sanctuary!