EARTH DAY---what is greening up in you?

Along the way in Bear Canyon today, a question appeared, "What is 'greening-up' in you right now?"  Spring has come and gone and returned a few times this year.  Now it seems in earnest.  The wildly divergent 'greens' I see these past few days, must have stimulated the question.  It is a good one to ask.

What shows up along side this question is, "What are you nourishing right now?"  That brought me up short.  Am I nourishing what is healthy and progressive for me?  Is what is greening up healthy new growth or is it a growth which seeks to keep things as they have always been?  It all seems to boil down to what is it that increases my engagement in life; even if it is new and different from years past.  Questioning the way things have always been seems appropriate.  This is a gift of spring.

So what_is_greening up in me right now?  It seems to require deeper honesty, more playfulness and a willingness to let go of making big plans.  God shows up, after all, in the unexpected.  So, how do I find a balance of taking action toward desires and then letting it all flow.......releasing all expectations?  Daily experiences of emotional contentment---several a day actually---help me.  Noticing what shows up and how I feel are big clues.  Clues to what is greening up and what I am nourishing.

If this is a good question for you, too....consider sharing here a bit of what you see and feel.  We can be good for each other by gardening each others hearts.  So what is greening up for you?  Leave a comment if you like.  HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Minimalist Sanctuary Garden wins 2011 NMASLA Award

Winter meant much time out of Santa Fe for me; announcing this garden winner went by the sidelines.  In December 2011, the New Mexico Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects honored the "Baker" garden with a merit award.

Somewhat Zen inspired, this small yard was transformed from a rough patch of weeds and dirt to this clean, minimalist, multi-use space which includes an in-ground spa with rolled stainless steel rail, custom designed furnishings (granite and steel table, six ipe wood and iron stools, two ipe benches and Cherry wood and stainless steel cook unit), plantings and river rock pool with Aspen trees.  The spa decking is stamped and artfully stained concrete.  A fiber optic cord illuminates the spa edge.

The space benefits from an old coyote fence with neighboring, historic, corrugated roof peering over.  This garden measures no more than 17' x 20' and yet accomplishes much for the homeowner.  It has become a place to work, meditate, relax, read, cook, entertain, star-gaze and more.  Very private and quiet, though steps away from the epicenter of the Railyard.

The garden won a Western Garden Award in 2005 from Sunset Magazine---where a Juror described it as a "brilliant manipulation of a very small space."

Mud Season in Santa Fe

A couple days ago, snow frosted all plants, buildings and sculptural art works along Canyon Road; it was like walking into the scene inside a sugar Easter egg.  Oddly the pavement was clear---evidence of warmth releasing from Earth's heart beneath Santa Fe from several warm days before this mid-spring 'winter'.

Having already adjusted to spring, donning the scarf, boots and gloves again felt like a few steps backward---except that it was so pure and delightful to walk the loop from Garcia to Acequia Madre to Canyon Road and see this gentle (AND THANKFULLY MOIST) icing on a beautiful dessert.  New landscaping and gardens had begun and were in pause-mode while we all smiled at the gift of the great garden cake decorator, Mother Nature.

Along this walk, are two sculpted bears in a perpetual, nested together, nap in front of Sage Creek Gallery.  These bears, like a huge twin bear fetish, always make me smile----on April 3rd, covered in their snowy blanket, I laughed out loud.  Imagining them cavorting in the night up and down Canyon Road, they now rested together in their heart-centered garden room.  Such stories seed the most endearing landscape and garden designs----the things that open our hearts also open the garden gate.

Mid-spring snows at 7,000 ft of altitude can be a game changer.  Sometimes the snow acts as insulation, keeping the buds from a hard freeze, sometimes not.  Many of the trees flowering for fruits later in the season were in bloom.  Time will tell whether this snow event will sap a bit of that vitality, reducing or eliminating the production of apricots and other delicacies.  Perhaps the Goddess brought this weather adjustment due to how terribly dry we are and the need for moisture to get those fruits to market may just not be in the offing this year.  She does know best.

So Santa Fe is in mud season.....it will likely last until the weekend.  ; =