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22
Apr

a Succulent Garden | Earth Day – peace. love. quinoa


Apr 22

I woke up this morning before the sun rose and opened the blinds that shade the 8 large windows in that line the walls of my little home…. I was up because Patrick was leaving for a 6am workout, I quickly decided I would skip the 6am workout (hey! I’m on “vacation” today) to catch a few more zzzz’s.

Around 7:30 or 8am, I awoke to birds chirping, two squirrels playing in the tree, and sunshine. As I lay in my bed, I can see out of 6 of my windows. My house is situated further off the street than most of the houses on the block and as I look out each window, I see my violet bushes that are in the beginning stages of bloom. I see my evergreen tree that holds it’s own presence in the yard, and is beautifully green all year long. And, I see bare trees that are ready to fill in for the summer. My little home is my sanctuary, my resting place – when I was looking for homes to purchase I insisted that the outdoors be incorporated in to my living space, and I got just that.

Today is Earth Day, a day to celebrate the Earth and all that it provides, a day to give back to your community, a reminder that your actions affect the well-being of this planet we live on. 

While I am not an enthusiast of Earth Day, I am aware of my decisions and actions and how they affect the Earth, all year long. I am not doing anything special today to celebrate the Earth, but I am in the planning stages of my garden and I’m ready to install my compost bin. I don’t have any lights on in the house, the sun provides for me. I will spend a portion of my afternoon laying in my hammock, reading a book. A book book, not an electronic book. I will lay my yoga mat down on the earth today and practice meditation.

As I write this post, my little doggy lays in the fresh mulch, soaking up the morning sunshine and observing the earth surrounding him – the elements, the birds, the squirrels, the bugs, the dewy grass. Even he understands that the earth provides for him and he pays gratitude by being present in those moments that he spends with the elements.

So, about those succulents…

In my little yard, I not only have space for a garden, but I’ve got a succulent garden as well! I didn’t plant it, the previous owners did. I’d always dreamed of having succulents but never took the time to research them and make it happen. 

The succulent garden is situated right up against the house in a shaded area. Succulents don’t require much maintenance or watering, which is one of the only reasons they can be planted right against the house. You wouldn’t want to plant a thirsty garden against the house and be watering it every day – the water could damage the foundation of your home. 

My belief is that this succulent garden was planted last season, either summer or fall of 2014. I have done NOTHING to the garden, yet many of the succulents are alive and thriving. I’m anxious to see if everything in the garden turns to life or if I’ll have to re-plant in some areas.

Wish my luck.. 

Tagged with → Earth Day • garden • succulent • succulents 

Love

Crista

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