Celebrating the healing joy of small things is very much what this blog is about. Noticing the ordinary miracles right where we are: clover flowers that smell just like honey, bees visiting the flowers like little furry suns, crystal rain drops on a perfect leaf… Sharing awareness of the often undervalued power of simplicity and presence is one of my favourite things—you could say it’s one of my love languages. If you spend any time with me you have to be prepared for a lot of “Ohhh look!” and ever-repeated amazement at the simplest of things.
I find perpetual wonder and ever-renewed innocence when looking at nature. I often feel I am seeing things for the first time, no matter how many times I have actually admired them before. There is always something new to discover, some fascinating detail to observe and marvel at.
The tiny blushing faces of flowers make me stop with their heart-melting beauty. I am overwhelmed by their natural grace and simple presence, they seem to speak in a quietly confident way, glowing with so much brightness and courage in their fragility. It looks like they want to say something essential.
Kissing roses remains one of my favourite things to do during a quiet Summer day, I just can’t resist it! Have you ever kissed a rose? It is a wonderful way to connect to nature and I especially love it on drizzly or rainy days, when the little fragrant face is adorned with refreshing drops.
Stroking the velvetty leaves of the Lady’s Mantle plant is an incomparable way to take a moment to yourself in the garden. And if it has been raining and you don’t feel like touching wet leaves, this magical plant still has a lot of wonders to offer on a wet day, collecting gemmed water drops on its silky leaves.
For a few weeks in mid-Summer, the hot pink blush of the wildflowers makes the hedges sing. The delicious heady scent drifts along and entices me to visit at regular intervals. Amongst a gentle crowd of bumble bees, I wait for my turn to dive nose first into the bright roses. Each one smells slightly different, a sweet, floral scent with accents of citrus which lingers on me for a long time after.
I look at my plants in the house and in the garden regularly and love to congratulate them when they make a new leaf or flower. I feel genuine joy and pride at seeing my plant friends flourish and be healthy, and we have a mutually nourishing relationship. Paying attention to them in that way is like nurturing a friendship, and having this connection to them helps me see what they need.
Looking at my wild garden from the ground, where I often sit, is a wonderful experience that plays with perspective and perception. The structural majesty of the self-heal plant takes on an imposing grandeur as it towers over my field of vision and looks as tall as a buiding. I feel like a tiny person visiting a jungle of grass, daisies and buttercups.
The bees’ company is one of the most supportive “small thing” for me. In general I really enjoy connecting with animals because it is non-verbal and gives my cognitive brain a break, allowing my mind to go into deep relaxation while maintaining openness, curiosity and connection.
The bees have a very gentle presence which I soak up as I sit close to them while they work. The sound they make is deeply soothing, and their focused activity without fuss relieves stress and tension. As the years go by I learn more about creating a garden that is an immersive bee experience. This year I am training vigourous nasturtiums to grow all around my sitting area so that I will be surrounded by their laughing blooms and gentle bees throughout late Summer and Autumn.
I am expecting the second flush of dandelions to bloom in the next few weeks, and will look forward to swarms of butterflies resting peacefully on them for the rest of the Summer, flying all around me as I visit the garden. Walking through my small wild garden is a delightful moment. Just a few steps, but so many small things to see, enjoy and take to heart.
