In this episode, we reflect on the reason for the holiday season and have fun sharing the hilarity of the mad rush -- much like the rush of wrapping up the gardening season with a few late-season tips. Then comes the Long Winter's Nap from gardening we enjoy. We wrap up by contemplating the Gift of Contentment.
Related Stories (and Episodes) and Helpful Links:
A Long Winter's Nap
Father John's Animal House Garden
Overwintering Potted Perennials
Ep 20. Unexpected Furry Messenger, Father John's Memorial Garden
8888
I'd love to hear about your garden and nature stories. And your thoughts about topics for future podcast episodes. You can email me at AskMaryStone@gmail.com. Thanks so much for tuning in.
You can Follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook and Instagram #MaryElaineStone.
Episode web page —Garden Dilemmas Podcast Page
Thank you for sharing the Garden of Life,
Mary Stone, Columnist & Garden Designer
AskMaryStone.com
More about the Podcast and Column:
Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.
It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from mother nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.
Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone.com
Direct Link to Podcast Page
Ep 140 Long Winter's Nap and Gift of Contentment
Sat, Dec 23, 2023 12:08PM • 9:16
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
years, christmas, garden, contentment, season, write, christmas songs, thought, porch, adorned, christmas tree, loss, greater, life, mother nature, buying, gifts, cards, evergreens, oh holy night, tao te ching, tao mary stone, garden, nature, inspiration
SPEAKERS
Mary Stone
Mary Stone 00:00
Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. I'm Mary Stone and welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries. It's not only about gardens. It's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from mother nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So let's jump in in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.
Mary Stone 00:26
Hello there, it's Mary Stone on the screen porch. And it's a very cold day on the first day of winter- the winter solstice- the shortest daylight of the year. And we are on the cusp of Christmas, the holiday spirit is giving and receiving. Isn't it true that giving gifts is more fun than receiving them. And all of the stress preparing for the holidays, sending cards, decking the halls, buying gifts can be taken away if we just let things come from our hearts. Curt always asked what I want for Christmas. And I always answer - whatever you'd like to give me. It doesn't have to be a thing.
Mary Stone 01:01
Last week, I mentioned a Christmas card from a few years back that led to the Legend of Holly and Christmas Trees and how to extend the joy. This year I sought to find Made in America cards. Maybe it's silly, but I feel inspired to support manufacturers here using our resources and residents to make them even if they cost a bit more. So I bought a four-pack of 10 with assorted designs, but when I sat down to write them out, three of the four packs were money gift cards. So that was so funny that I didn't notice that when I was buying them, and it kind of put me in a tailspin. Actually, it caused me stress. And I thought, how ironic that the Made in America cards were for giving money - it really seems so odd to me. As a workaround, I thought I could write a small Christmas letter to fit in the slot to share some of the year's highlights as folks do. And I drafted one, but it felt so awkward. So instead, I made a little note not to forget the reason for the season. And it said -- let us reflect on the reason for the season and relish the blessings given to us. One of them is you. And that includes you, kind listeners. Thank you for visiting with me each week. Merry Christmas. Merry season of love. This brings to mind a long-ago story with an adorable photo of Miss Ellie napping under the Christmas tree on the bed with paw prints that Jolee now uses. It was written in 2015, and it starts like this.
Mary Stone 02:29
Hello fellow listeners and readers. Just a few days before Christmas and all through the valley, folks are scrambling like lunatics with their last-minute rallies. The stockings all hung by the chimney with care and hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. Anticipating Santa's coming sure takes the pressure off.
Mary Stone 02:48
Don't you love all the funny Christmas poems and Carol twists? There's The 12 Pains of Christmas by Bob Rivers describes the 12 things of Christmas that are such a pain to me, such as finding a Christmas tree ringing up the lights, hangovers, and sending Christmas cards, leading to the crescendo of five months of bills.
Mary Stone 03:09
Or there's the Redneck version. Instead of five golden rings, it features five flannel shirts. I love flannel shirts, by the way, especially plaid ones. And at the end of the Redneck version, two hunt-in dogs and some parts of a Mustang GT. Christmas songs are played repeatedly in every public place starting as early as Halloween. Typically only the secular ones so as not to show favoritism. No wonder Christmas songs are worn out by now. And so are we. I look forward to hearing the meaningful songs of the season, such as O holy night, Silent Night, and The First Noel, which seem few and far between.
Mary Stone 03:49
Shopping, wrapping, baking, and running about. It's like the mad dash to wrap up the gardening season. But at the end of it all comes a long winter's nap from gardening, which I thoroughly enjoy. And I have a little "shhhh" in parentheses.
Mary Stone 04:04
It takes two years for new plants to establish themselves, so keep them moist until the ground freezes if Mother Nature doesn't provide rain. And keep your established woody plants moist, especially evergreens, which can suffer from winter winds. You still have time to apply Wilt-pruf to prevent transpiration. The loss of water from plant parts, primarily leaves, can wreak havoc on evergreens during cold, windy spells. Wishing you the true meaning of a season which is universal to all. It's all about love. Garden Dilemmas? Ask Mary Stone.com.
Mary Stone 04:39
I think I'm going to add to the story a bit about verse 46 of the Tao Te Ching, which speaks about the saddest things in life is: not living contentment and always wanting more. As written in Wayne Dyer's book Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, Living the Wisdom of the Tao: When the World Has The Way, running horses are retired to till the fields. When the world lacks The Way, war horses are bred in the countryside. There's no greater loss than losing the Tao. (And I should explain to those that may not know that the Tao Te Ching is the philosophies of Lao Tzu, from 2500 years ago, and The Way is the way of nature, which parallels our lives and our own nature.) No greater curse than covetousness. No greater tragedy than discontentment. The worst of the faults is wanting more, always. Contentment alone is enough. Indeed, the bliss of eternity can be found in your contentment.
Mary Stone 05:40
Those are such powerful words. And you know, yesterday I was listening to that verse while I was walking, and I ran into a gal who introduced herself to me. Her name was Andraya. And she stopped to meet Jolee. And she asked me if I once had a golden because she reads my column and it was so sweet of her to stop and say hello. So she greeted Jolee, who reciprocated with enthusiasm as she always does. She just loves meeting people. And she said that they're thinking of getting a rescue. I tell her about Father John's Animal House from where Jolee came. John was a priest who gave livestock a place to live in their last years, and when he passed away, he donated the land to serve animals. Hence, the name of the no-kill shelter that prides itself in being matchmakers. We spoke about Father John's in Episode 20 - Unexpected Furry Messenger - Father John's Memorial Garden. I'll put a link in the show notes.
Mary Stone 06:34
I asked her if she ever had a dog, and she said that they did 10 years ago, but they never wanted to go through losing a dog again. But time has healed. Losing a pet is like losing a family member. It's the hardest part but the love that they give while here. I trailed off as I was thinking to myself how time heals and how the love we gained from our furry friends is worth the loss that we feel when it's time to say goodbye.
Mary Stone 06:58
Andraya commented I love the face pot you featured a few weeks ago. That was an Overwintering Potted Perennials. I share the history of the Mother Earth face pot I admired and decorated for years for dear clients. They gave it to me when they moved from their home. I didn't share that they moved after the tragic loss of their son Myles in his early 20s.
Mary Stone 07:21
I went on to tell her that now that the perennials are overwintering in the garage, I've adorned Mother Earth with the Andromeda and Blue Princess Holly branches, plus twigs of Mr. Beech. And I included two thick branches configured with a cross adorned with dry OakLeaf hydrangea flowers.
Mary Stone 07:38
You know, beyond weathering the storm, we can learn to dance in it. Knowing and trusting that there is something to gain from even the most challenging times. We grow from it. And after the rain comes the sun and maybe a rainbow, though sometimes rainbows come even without the rain. Like it did when we looked out the hospital room window the day we learned that my brother Bill was going to be called home. A glorious rainbow appeared in the brilliant blue sky. A sign from God, I said to Bill as we stared in the wonder of it all.
Mary Stone 08:10
Yes, indeed. May we never forget that love never ends or dies and that our loved ones are with us still, even if they're on the other side. May we always cherish, with contentment, all the gifts we have in our life. So, thanks so much for coming by. I always enjoy our time together, and I hope you have as well. And I hope you have a glorious holiday. Wishing you all the best and good health and good fortune. But remember that being content is the greatest gift of all. Thank you so much. See you next time on the screen porch.
Mary Stone 08:46
You can follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook or online at Garden Dilemmas.com and on Instagram and hashtag Mary Elaine Stone. Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries is produced by Alex Bartling. Thanks for coming by. I look forward to chatting again from my screen porch. And always remember to embrace the unexpected in this garden of life. Have a great day.