Right back atcha Julia - your work does the same for me. A beautiful well-tended garden where I can breathe. Love everything about this piece - a good reminder of why I love Substack and should spend more time here instead of being scared of it (as I have been recently, possibly because I'm insane?!). Thank you x
I’m sitting on my porch absorbing my morning caffeine and watching our oscillator water the flowers by the street. It started as a very practical “headache garden” of medicinal herbs for my husband, but behold, herbs are sometimes magical bloomers. Valerian is the star!
You and me both Julia, get people off the couch! Lovely piece about being a garden. When I moved at age 75, I got rid of half of my stuff. I kept my gardening tools, my backpacking and walking gear, my painting and sewing stuff. I continue to live a creative and adventurous life which I share with others. Aging is not for sissies, hang on to your spirit!
No sissies indeed! I fell in love with gardening, although you’d never know it from my home. I try, though, and at least where I water, things flourish.
Julia, what a beautiful piece! I love how you compare human connection with a blooming garden. And your Hubbel group sounds a lot like my past women's group that I wrote about last week. I'm looking forward to the online version of it after I'm moved and settled this month.
Thanks for sharing a little piece of your morning walk with us. It brought me joy today 😊
I love your work, Julia, & always perk up when it pops up on my thread. In a world full of hate, division & fear, your words lend hope & support & lightness. You are a real gem.
I love the notion of living life as though we are a garden to the world. It makes me think of things like a flowering heart; the bouquets of feeling and caring that we offer to one another; opening ourselves in the sun and the light; and allowing ourselves to bloom and inspire . . . I'm always inspired by your writing, by your stories. I know this because I catch myself smiling when I read your stuff.
I like this piece. I always like your work. It's respite from my own. This really resonates with me. I recently relocated to a tiny house in a tiny town in northern Arizona. In addition to my writing, I took a little job--go small or go home--working with autistic adults and I have never loved a group of people more. It gives me hope that I still have so much empathy left inside me. My work is dark and that's ok. It's a dirty job and I'm happy to do it. I'm working hard dialing down the anger and frustration at a world that breaks my heart, daily. And, instead, trying to figure out what I can do to make the shit show a little less shitty. It starts with me.
Those folks who create gardens in common areas are magic angels who generously share their wealth. I appreciate that you remind us we can do the same with our words and our energy in general. I also love that the Asian woman responds "I don't know" when she's asked how she grows the lavender, it's a perfect answer! I must remind myself that, as beautiful as they are, I cannot walk in ALL the gardens even if I want to. It's a lucky problem to have.
Hi Julia, thank you for this sharing these beautiful photos and associated stories that serve as a wonderful analogy for how we tend to (and nurture) self and others - sometimes in unexpected ways. It was wonderful to spend time with you yesterday with my two senior dogs and your pupper - I also appreciate your kind mention of my work on Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA).
I loved reading this essay. It made me feel like stepping into the little piece of heaven created by the Asian woman who tends this extension strip of a garden, and the spacious oasis that YOU provide for all of your readers so generously. I absolutely love this metaphor: "in a true oasis the community uses the bullshit for fertilizer for everyone’s growth."
As I go through my own fermentation (grief) and call out--for my own healing--all the bullshits I put up with in the past, I feel that my soul is challenging me to rise to a new level of honesty in my writing. This is deep and scary work. Which is why I'm needing more time than ever to brew/ferment/compost! But like the round lavender bush this Asian woman has grown, what really goes into it, though mysterious, is probably the essence of love.
I recently bought a little plaque that says, "Do small things with great love." I want that to be a good reminder and a guiding principal for whatever I do.
Those who have learned and who live this: "the greatest gift we can offer others is a space to evolve, be themselves, be seen and recognized and challenged and supported." know that, without question, loving someone as they are makes the world better for both. It's a great starting point for moving forward into our evolving humanity. Thank you, Julia, for underscoring the importance of giving to others, whether pleasure in the common areas or in the more uncommon and less familiar. It all ads up to the proverbial sum being greater than the parts. Maybe a hackneyed expression, and yet, significant.
Ourselves and our writing as gardens --- that's an image I'm going to take to heart. A heart that is feeling humble and gratified to see my name mentioned in your story, especially in the company of other writers who are, as you say, creating communities of depth, humor, and great worth. I honestly can't imagine getting through these wildly "interesting" times without folks like them -- and like you. Cheers, gardener.
Precisely. I hadn’t thought about it that way either until this morning when Mika and I spent a few extra minutes at this little spot of gorgeousness. The benefits of a long walk!
Right back atcha Julia - your work does the same for me. A beautiful well-tended garden where I can breathe. Love everything about this piece - a good reminder of why I love Substack and should spend more time here instead of being scared of it (as I have been recently, possibly because I'm insane?!). Thank you x
We ARE by god insane. The smarter and more opinionated we are, the more the world labels us mad. That's why we get to push back! Thank you!
Wonderful article, btw! Sharing and sending to my co-maturing gardening friends.
I’m sitting on my porch absorbing my morning caffeine and watching our oscillator water the flowers by the street. It started as a very practical “headache garden” of medicinal herbs for my husband, but behold, herbs are sometimes magical bloomers. Valerian is the star!
You and me both Julia, get people off the couch! Lovely piece about being a garden. When I moved at age 75, I got rid of half of my stuff. I kept my gardening tools, my backpacking and walking gear, my painting and sewing stuff. I continue to live a creative and adventurous life which I share with others. Aging is not for sissies, hang on to your spirit!
No sissies indeed! I fell in love with gardening, although you’d never know it from my home. I try, though, and at least where I water, things flourish.
Julia, what a beautiful piece! I love how you compare human connection with a blooming garden. And your Hubbel group sounds a lot like my past women's group that I wrote about last week. I'm looking forward to the online version of it after I'm moved and settled this month.
Thanks for sharing a little piece of your morning walk with us. It brought me joy today 😊
Many thanks Kristi. I am so struck by how the small things inspire an article.
Yup, and not everyone can turn it into a beautiful post like you can!
Thanks. Someday when I grow up I am going to put up a pay wall and see if I can begin to pay my bills. Sept will make a year. Damn, man.
You'll never know until you try!
Working on it. :-)
I like this analogy. I'll be thinking about what I'm planting in the garden of my life. BTW, it's nice to pass by your garden.
I love your work, Julia, & always perk up when it pops up on my thread. In a world full of hate, division & fear, your words lend hope & support & lightness. You are a real gem.
Thank you ❤️
That is extremely kind of you Tina. Thank you.
I love the notion of living life as though we are a garden to the world. It makes me think of things like a flowering heart; the bouquets of feeling and caring that we offer to one another; opening ourselves in the sun and the light; and allowing ourselves to bloom and inspire . . . I'm always inspired by your writing, by your stories. I know this because I catch myself smiling when I read your stuff.
what a lovely compliment, thank you so much Stephanie!
Using the bullshit as common fertilizer! Love it, Julia!!!
And awwww, thanks. It’s always wonderful to feel seen. 😍🥰
You bet.
I like this piece. I always like your work. It's respite from my own. This really resonates with me. I recently relocated to a tiny house in a tiny town in northern Arizona. In addition to my writing, I took a little job--go small or go home--working with autistic adults and I have never loved a group of people more. It gives me hope that I still have so much empathy left inside me. My work is dark and that's ok. It's a dirty job and I'm happy to do it. I'm working hard dialing down the anger and frustration at a world that breaks my heart, daily. And, instead, trying to figure out what I can do to make the shit show a little less shitty. It starts with me.
As does it all, Chaos. When we can start there we are on our way. That’s brave work.
Those folks who create gardens in common areas are magic angels who generously share their wealth. I appreciate that you remind us we can do the same with our words and our energy in general. I also love that the Asian woman responds "I don't know" when she's asked how she grows the lavender, it's a perfect answer! I must remind myself that, as beautiful as they are, I cannot walk in ALL the gardens even if I want to. It's a lucky problem to have.
Thanks Julia, I found this essay very uplifting.
The walk this morning was uplifting!
Hi Julia, thank you for this sharing these beautiful photos and associated stories that serve as a wonderful analogy for how we tend to (and nurture) self and others - sometimes in unexpected ways. It was wonderful to spend time with you yesterday with my two senior dogs and your pupper - I also appreciate your kind mention of my work on Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA).
Thanks in every way. So glad we met!
I loved reading this essay. It made me feel like stepping into the little piece of heaven created by the Asian woman who tends this extension strip of a garden, and the spacious oasis that YOU provide for all of your readers so generously. I absolutely love this metaphor: "in a true oasis the community uses the bullshit for fertilizer for everyone’s growth."
As I go through my own fermentation (grief) and call out--for my own healing--all the bullshits I put up with in the past, I feel that my soul is challenging me to rise to a new level of honesty in my writing. This is deep and scary work. Which is why I'm needing more time than ever to brew/ferment/compost! But like the round lavender bush this Asian woman has grown, what really goes into it, though mysterious, is probably the essence of love.
I recently bought a little plaque that says, "Do small things with great love." I want that to be a good reminder and a guiding principal for whatever I do.
This is why I love your writing, Louisa. Thank you. Beautifully said.
By the way, I just shared some photos from my community garden plot:
https://substack.com/@lilypond/note/c-61063328
From my garden to yours, with love.
I can't seem to make the "like" button work! So here I am, liking your reply! xo
Worked for me. Honestly Substack has been very wonky lately. Thank you!
Those who have learned and who live this: "the greatest gift we can offer others is a space to evolve, be themselves, be seen and recognized and challenged and supported." know that, without question, loving someone as they are makes the world better for both. It's a great starting point for moving forward into our evolving humanity. Thank you, Julia, for underscoring the importance of giving to others, whether pleasure in the common areas or in the more uncommon and less familiar. It all ads up to the proverbial sum being greater than the parts. Maybe a hackneyed expression, and yet, significant.
Ourselves and our writing as gardens --- that's an image I'm going to take to heart. A heart that is feeling humble and gratified to see my name mentioned in your story, especially in the company of other writers who are, as you say, creating communities of depth, humor, and great worth. I honestly can't imagine getting through these wildly "interesting" times without folks like them -- and like you. Cheers, gardener.
Hey, thanks for the mention.
I never thought of writing projects as flower beds or gardens, but it’s an apt comparison. Each page and idea grows from mental seeds.
Weeding is required to clean up the bed and allow the chosen concepts to flourish.
We water the process by reading and experiencing the world.
Passers-by can stop to enjoy, and maybe they will go home to plant some seeds of their own.
Precisely. I hadn’t thought about it that way either until this morning when Mika and I spent a few extra minutes at this little spot of gorgeousness. The benefits of a long walk!