In the tradition of Japan’s 72 gardening seasons, I’m posting a regular short piece every 5 days (the length of one of these seasons). And then, monthly, I’m pulling together a few thoughts for 26 in our Newsletter. Just take a look at the seasons we’ve experienced so far this year: ‘Ice thickens on streams’, ‘Hens start laying eggs’, ‘East wind melts the ice’, ‘Bush warblers start singing in the mountains’, ‘Fish emerge from the ice’, finally ‘Rain moistens the soil’.
The reason I enjoy this steady rhythm of 5 days is that it forces me (I should say encourages me) to pay attention to what’s around me, to notice more, and be present. So, it’s my duty to ask you – what have you noticed in your garden or local park or the countryside over the past 6 seasons? The reason I ask is that there’s been so much activity.
Late January is a time of re-beginnings, in many ways a preparation for the official start of the year which, according to this calendar, starts on 4th February. While the signs of Spring are still tentative and sneak previews are tantalising, the truth is there is a lot of water finding places to go – melting, cleansing, soaking, filling, standing or flowing – a lot of movement at a time when we think of Winter as a dead space. So, I’ve been watching where the water goes and where it sits. There have been so few sunny days sometimes it’s like watching paint dry.
Some plants adore this time of year. In fact it’s their moment. We were in Harlow Carr Gardens in Yorkshire and their Midwinter Fire Cornuses, all orange and red planted in a wave through the beds, pinged out through the rain. It’s also a great time for Broad Beans but I’m still puzzled why 50% of my bean seeds decided to germinate 3 months AFTER the first set had sprouted, back in December. They caught up in a matter of days, but why so delayed? I have no answer.
And this is what I find fascinating. We are a part of nature, not apart from it. Often we mirror it without knowing. Some people take longer to grasp an idea than others. But we all get there in the end. We think that life is about give and take, but at its highest level it should be a matter of give and giving. Nature’s giving stuff away for free all the time. We had a blistering sunrise the other day. The skyline was flushed pink. Honestly, I would have paid to watch it.
See you in another 5 seasons when mists linger and grass sprouts.
– Alastair Creamer