Sunflowers and more

Below is a photograph I took when I was growing this magnificent sunflower in our front yard in Santa Fe. Bees and other pollinators loved visiting the flower and once the seeds came in the Fall a variety of birds flocked to scarf up the seeds.

                   Helianthus annuus macrocarpus
                  (Hopi Black Dye Sunflower 

   Hopi name: Tceqa' Qu' Si)

And now I have planted seeds, again in our front yard, here in Cotati. I purposefully planted the seeds near the Ukrainian flag we have "flying" on the East fence. This flower has a long history in the country symbolizing peace. Russians and Ukrainians are presently at war, however the meaning of the sunflowers as a symbol of peace has not changed. Ukrainians are encouraging the planting of sunflowers worldwide to encourage leaders once again to embrace peace. Thus I am doing my small part in supporting the Ukrainians stance for peace.

To celebrate May Day as I did as a child when we created May baskets filled with whatever early flowers were available and delivered them to

neighbors' doors, I am creating here a May basket filled with pictures of some of my favorite native flowers.

 

Berlandiera lyrata (Chocolate Flower)
Yes, the flowers really smell like chocolate!

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) 

with  Indian Ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides)

 in the background.

All three of the above plants are in Todd planters and presently very quite small. They are too small, in fact,  to be set out in the ground as of yet. Shasta can hardly wait for a plethora of Echinacea as she loves grazing on the leaves finding them extremely tasty just like Zinnia leaves.

                                            Mimulus aurantiacus (Sticky monkeyflower)

                                            planted and flowering in our Cotati front yard.

Phacelia bolanderi (Bolander’s Phaceli)
flowering our Cotati front yard.

Penstemon heterophyllus
(Blue Bedder penstemon ‘Margarita BOP’)

flowering in our Cotati front yard.

Calylophus drum mondianus (Sundrops)
with a plethora of flowers in our Cotati front yard

Blue eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
in full display at Ren Brown's
garden in Bodega Bay, California.

And now to the exciting news: Saturday past I was gifted five teeny, tiny Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars. I drove to Sebastopol to pick them up. My dear friend Rob had brought in a small jelly jar the five caterpillars pictured below. It was no easy task getting them out of the jar onto one of the Pipevine's leaves. We have had an extraordinary windy day! When I recently checked I could only locate three but I am hopeful the other two are sequestered among the leaves.

As I carefully moved these precious little ones onto the healthy, vibrant Dutchman's pipevine leaves, instead of holding my breath, I have a good belly 

Easter, 2022

Easter happens each year on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring after the Spring Equinox. So for all who are asking "why is Easter is so late this year?" that is the reason. AND unfortunately it is also happening during a disturbance "in the force" of planetary wellness/wholeness.

Soul of the Earth, sanctify me.

Body of the Earth, save me.

Blood of the Earth, fill me with love.

Water from Earth’s side, wash me.

Passion of Earth, strengthen me.

Resurrection of Earth, empower me.

Good Earth, hear me.

Within your wounds, hide me.

Never let me be separated from you.

From the power of evil, protect me.

At the hour of my death, call me

That with your living ones I may thank you

For all eternity. Amen.

                       ADAPTED BY JANE PELLOWSKI

                                                                 FROM ANIMA CHRISTI

Between Earth and Sky by Dwight Sims with
  Penstemon eatonii (‘Firecracker’ penstemon)

This sculpture has always spoken to me, perhaps because for me it calls for connection to Mother Earth as in the poem above. Dwight's sculpture figure raises her arms skyward in desire for all to awaken. Also, Joan Halifax's compassionate offering during these troubling and difficult times, especially for the Ukraine peoples led by their awesome president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calls us to awaken. 

        Offering Compassion to Ukraine and All Afflicted by War                                                                                                                                                     

                        May suffering arising from hatred be remedied.

                        May those in the grip of fear be released to the safety of understanding.

                        May those lost in confusion find relief in wisdom.

                        May those in refugee camps find their way home.

                        May those who are unsheltered find a safe harbor in community.

                        May those suffering from grief and the ravages of war find peace.

                        May those who care for the wounded and sick find support as they serve 

                             others.

                        May those who have died in the ravages of war be liberated from 

                            confusion.

                        May all awaken and awaken others.    

                                                                                                            Roshi Joan Halifax    

We here at PageRefuge have been struck by the outpouring of support for the Ukrainian peoples. There is a man in Denver, Colorado, who went to buy a Ukrainian flag only to be told it was the last one. He came home and began making, along with a multitude of family members, Ukrainian flags out of wood from pallets. All of the proceeds from selling these flags are being donated to benefit the displaced Ukrainians. And a local female teenager violin player is also raising money by playing her instrument and donating all her proceeds likewise. Then, the most touching story of compassion was of a seven year old autistic boy who wrote a letter to Putin to stop the war since so many children in Ukraine do not have a home anymore. His father sent the letter to our local NBC station. His letter was featured on the 5 o'clock program we watched Tuesday and he was interviewed. Such demonstrations of compassion is so good for each and everyone of our souls during this disturbance "in the force" of planetary wellness/wholeness                                                                               

So as we all awaken, and pray for not only the unwarranted killing to stop in Ukraine but also for peace and compassion here at home in the United States, may we

Shaping up

Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea)
blooming in our backyard. 
I love the stunning flowers
The leaves have a wonderful fragrance
which I love as well.

PageRefuge is shaping up to BE a place of abundance for all creatures that visit, and of course for we two humans who have created such on a very small plot of land. In the midst of honoring our work and enjoying what has been created, I am filled with sorrow witnessing what is unfolding half a world away in Ukraine. Witnessing the suffering and violence is the thrust of Roshi Joan Halifax in her writing. You may read her words by clicking on the Ukraine link above. My question to each and everyone of us is if that democracy can be invaded by the command of the Russian autocrat why not ours here in the United States?

Back to PageRefuge where I would like to highlight Dwight's carpentry:

A mini greenhouse now sits on
the West side of our house.
Here I can start seeds
with a regulated temperature
created by the heat mattress
on the bottom.

Then this past Friday we hired a stellar man who is incredibly strong as well as a hard worker. If anyone is looking for someone to complete a task for them feel free to give me a call and I can give you his name and contact information.

In our backyard where the pear tree and apple tree stood when we purchased PageRefuge now sit two 4 feet by 8 feet raised beds. Initially Dwight was considering building them out of redwood but found the redwood available would not stand up long. Concrete blocks last forever; well maybe not forever but way beyond our life times. Hardware cloth was laid on bare dirt to keep out the gophers. Concrete blocks were positioned on the hardware cloth around the perimeter two deep. Our hard worker took his truck to Grab n Grow and picked up 3 cubic yards of dirt. The organic soil seemed the best kind of "dirt" to fill the raised beds since it will provide fertilizer for 60 days.

Western wild ginger (Asarum caudatum) with flower
transplanted from Auntie T's garden in Point Reyes Station.

At MuRefuge there was not adequate shade thus I have not grown Wild ginger before. I was ecstatic when I noticed the flower in my very first attempt to grow this plant.

“The greatest sorrow of life is witnessing. Experiencing our own sufferings is not as difficult as watching others held in fate’s mighty grip. Bearing our own problems is easier because we are always aware that we can exercise other options - - up to the final one. However, it hurts the most when we can do nothing for others. The greatest sorrow is to see those we love suffer helplessly.“                                                                           DENG MING-DAO

While we witness the atrocities being foisted upon the Ukrainian peoples who are valiantly fighting, to dissipate our greatest sorrow may we