Like most Americans, I grew up hearing people moan about weeds. My grandmother, an avid gardener, was fussy. She didn’t want anything growing between the cracks of her sidewalk. When she still lived at home, she often poured boiling water over unwanted plants. Old fashioned, effective, relatively eco-friendly in terms of chemical use, but laborious.Continue reading “Friends with Weeds?”
Tag Archives: garden
My Autumn Harvest
Today is the Autumn Equinox. It was chilly when I went outside to perform my morning devotional. The leaves are changing. Apples are ready to harvest in Upstate NY. Be that as it may, our afternoons have felt particularly summery lately. It’s tempting to run off to the beach this weekend, but I think we’llContinue reading “My Autumn Harvest”
Garden Update: Harvest and Gratitude
As Lughnasadh starts to turn us towards the Autumn Equinox, and as it is the beginning of the major harvests, I find myself reflecting on the successes and failures of our little container garden. Each year, we learn more about our plant allies. Each year, through a mixture of experience and research, we recognize opportunitiesContinue reading “Garden Update: Harvest and Gratitude “
Making Mugwort Smudge Wands
Fresh from the garden! So excited to have mugwort as a plant ally in the garden. This is my first time using them for smudge wands. We’ll see what happens!
My Garden as a Sanctuary
This year, I’ve started to notice how many Nature Spirits interact with my garden. I’ve always observed frogs, toads, birds, sometimes snakes, and a variety of invertebrates in and around my garden pots, but this year there’s greater significance to their presence. Upstate NY is experiencing a drought watch, and our family garden, watered onceContinue reading “My Garden as a Sanctuary”
2016 Garden Update
Another year, another lovely garden. Each year I learn more about and from the Nature Spirits. This year, my husband joined me in the adventure as he experiments with hydroponics. Once more, we are renters who largely rely on containers for our gardening. It has pros and cons, and I definitely look forward to havingContinue reading “2016 Garden Update”
Preparing for Winter in Autumn
I’ve noticed a significant decrease in temperature recently. There have been reports of frost in the Adirondacks, and the chilly nights have already started to impact my garden. Some of the less cold-tolerant plants are starting to wilt or die back. An Cailleach is waking up, and as much as I love autumn, it meansContinue reading “Preparing for Winter in Autumn”
Beautiful Bounty and Garden Surprises
My Twitter pal Lady Althaea really inspires me. Like other Pagans and Witches, much of her work focuses on keeping in touch with the land. She does a lot of foraging and herbalism, and I feel like I don’t get out as much to explore like I used to. Her posts on her blog andContinue reading “Beautiful Bounty and Garden Surprises”
Mystery Apples
Today, while visiting and tending my garden, I discovered five immature green apples under a bush. My first thought was “Offerings?” It just shows my mindset, I suppose. In reality, they were probably from some playing children who have a poor concept of modern boundaries. Although, if that is the case, they didn’t seem toContinue reading “Mystery Apples”
Get Out and Enjoy the Sun on the Summer Solstice
Last night, I joined some of my grovies from Northern Rivers as guests for Kripalu Yoga Center’s Summer Solstice celebration. It was a very different and eclectic ritual style, but it was good-natured and fun. It’s important to the group to show support for the Yoga Center as they have been very welcoming to us.Continue reading “Get Out and Enjoy the Sun on the Summer Solstice”
Author M. A. Phillips 