4. The Rituals of Spring
By Susan Ellis of keylifejourneys
Spring is a time of rituals for me, just like getting up after a long sleep. It was strange this year. The longing to be out in the garden came early because of the lack of snow, evident from my window. I felt I could be out there already. But finally the warmth of the sun softened the soil and it was time. It was the beginning of March and there I was raking the leaves off the grass and breaking off the dried out stems from past year's perennial growth.
A cold snap came so it was time for a visit to the conservatory in Allen Gardens and a look at the spring bulbs in bloom. Then more blooms.
Canada Blooms, this year's show was at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place;Toronto. A good location. Here I bought heritage vegetable seeds.
The next ritual was planting the first veggie seeds, two rows so far are in place. Then the moving of my metal circular trellis upon which my Scarlet runner beans will grow. I change its location on the veggie patch each year.
The next ritual is the visit to the cemetery at the end of the month. From 1st April the cemetery removes all winter wreaths. This 31st March marked the 11th anniversary of the death of my partner. I put a whimsical wreath up at the grave each year with Christmas decorations and Peanuts characters. Last fall when I had put it in place I had planted Icicle Pansies. They flower in autumn and the following spring. The squirrels had dug them up and no new growth greeted me this year.
It was cool but sunny so following the trip to the cemetery I took a walk in West Humber Park accessed from Parklawn Avenue. The bays made from landfill were filled with birds; diving birds as well as the ducks that stick their heads in the water and their fannies in the air; Canada Geese, noisy as ever and sticking their beaks into everyone else's business: swans, some with their wings arched up over their backs in regal splendor.
I sat on rocks on a pebbled beach, thelake calm, just rocking at the edge. Amongst the pebbles there werewater warn rust colored shapes of disintegrating bricks. I collectedsome small glass pieces made opaque by their smoothed surfaces, brown,green and clear turned white. On an adjacent beach slabs of pebbledfilled cement were rounded at the edges by water erosion. People, therebefore me, had built up piles to resemble four legged animals and twolegged inukshuks. I passed the butterfly habitat area, awaiting theirarrival.
Then came the next ritual. In the basement in brown paper bags my geraniums are stored through the winter. Each fall I shake the earth from the roots and put them in the dark. I love the moment when I open the bag to find green growth already started. Nature's clock knows. There is no need for light. The plant knows when it is time to start building for the summer. They go into buckets of water for 24 hours then into pots. They will be outside from 24th May. Finally it will be the turn of the dahlias. They too are in the basement in brown paper bags. I will be planting them indoors towards the end of April. I always like to see some green growth on them before I plant them outside.
These rituals have an effect on my biological clock too. I'm ready for a new gardening year!!
Spring is a time of rituals for me, just like getting up after a long sleep. It was strange this year. The longing to be out in the garden came early because of the lack of snow, evident from my window. I felt I could be out there already. But finally the warmth of the sun softened the soil and it was time. It was the beginning of March and there I was raking the leaves off the grass and breaking off the dried out stems from past year's perennial growth.
A cold snap came so it was time for a visit to the conservatory in Allen Gardens and a look at the spring bulbs in bloom. Then more blooms.
Canada Blooms, this year's show was at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place;Toronto. A good location. Here I bought heritage vegetable seeds.
The next ritual was planting the first veggie seeds, two rows so far are in place. Then the moving of my metal circular trellis upon which my Scarlet runner beans will grow. I change its location on the veggie patch each year.
The next ritual is the visit to the cemetery at the end of the month. From 1st April the cemetery removes all winter wreaths. This 31st March marked the 11th anniversary of the death of my partner. I put a whimsical wreath up at the grave each year with Christmas decorations and Peanuts characters. Last fall when I had put it in place I had planted Icicle Pansies. They flower in autumn and the following spring. The squirrels had dug them up and no new growth greeted me this year.
It was cool but sunny so following the trip to the cemetery I took a walk in West Humber Park accessed from Parklawn Avenue. The bays made from landfill were filled with birds; diving birds as well as the ducks that stick their heads in the water and their fannies in the air; Canada Geese, noisy as ever and sticking their beaks into everyone else's business: swans, some with their wings arched up over their backs in regal splendor.
I sat on rocks on a pebbled beach, thelake calm, just rocking at the edge. Amongst the pebbles there werewater warn rust colored shapes of disintegrating bricks. I collectedsome small glass pieces made opaque by their smoothed surfaces, brown,green and clear turned white. On an adjacent beach slabs of pebbledfilled cement were rounded at the edges by water erosion. People, therebefore me, had built up piles to resemble four legged animals and twolegged inukshuks. I passed the butterfly habitat area, awaiting theirarrival.
Then came the next ritual. In the basement in brown paper bags my geraniums are stored through the winter. Each fall I shake the earth from the roots and put them in the dark. I love the moment when I open the bag to find green growth already started. Nature's clock knows. There is no need for light. The plant knows when it is time to start building for the summer. They go into buckets of water for 24 hours then into pots. They will be outside from 24th May. Finally it will be the turn of the dahlias. They too are in the basement in brown paper bags. I will be planting them indoors towards the end of April. I always like to see some green growth on them before I plant them outside.
These rituals have an effect on my biological clock too. I'm ready for a new gardening year!!
Posted by Key Life Journey's Blog at 4/2/2010 9:55 PM 
Categories: Spring
Tags: rituals of spring Canada Blooms
Categories: Spring
Tags: rituals of spring Canada Blooms
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