Purpose

Now that I am fully vaccinated, I have started back to volunteering at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. I do a couple different things there. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings I do maintenance in the Gardener’s Showhouse. That really means I am the cleaning lady. I sweep, clean up dropped blossoms, prune dead leaves from plants, and this morning I started feeding and watering the African Violets. It may not sound that exciting, but I love it! The first thing I do when I get there is walk through the Showhouse to see what has changed and what needs my attention. There is always something new blooming or some new arrangement that the horticulturist has added. I can’t think of a more beautiful work environment.

What really occurred to me this morning, is how much stronger and healthier I am feeling now that I am back to working outside of my home. Having a purpose is so important to both my mental and physical health. I know that I have been blessed during this pandemic. I have stayed healthy. I have a comfortable home. I have food and clothing. I was grateful that I didn’t have to put myself in a dangerous situation by possibly exposing myself to Covid. The isolation, however, was very hard. On March 13, 2020, I left school for spring break. Because of the pandemic, I never went back, other than to pack up my things. After 30 years of teaching and being part of the Phillips Community, everything was changed. At the same time that I was thankful that I was not under the pressure my friends were, I felt lost. It affirmed for me how important it is to have a purpose in life.

I am so grateful to have that back through my work at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and the Enabling Garden in Altoona. Having a purpose means that I am helping others, but I am the one who is really rewarded by being able to contribute to these beautiful places.

A Good Night's Sleep

A few weeks ago I had a sleep study.  I have never been much of a sleeper.  I usually go to sleep by nine thirty or ten at night, but I don't stay asleep.  I wake up multiple times during the night, and if I have a lot on my mind, I sometimes cannot go back to sleep.  I rarely sleep until my alarm goes off.  I am usually up by four thirty or five a.m.

I never really thought a lot about it.  I figured this is just the way I am.  I viewed myself as a morning person.  My daughter and my sister thought otherwise, which is what prompted us to discuss my sleep patterns with my cardiologist and pulmonologist.

Turns out I have sleep apnea!  I am now getting used to using a CPAP machine.  It is not an easy adjustment, but I am already sleeping longer than I was.

I have to laugh at myself, because I have several friends who use CPAPs, but never once did I wonder if I had similar sleep issues.  Well, live and learn!  Now I am asking these friends a lot of questions about their experiences.  Oh, and I've had to start setting the alarm clock when I need to be up at a certain time.

My Gratitude for Today

1. I slept 7 1/2 hours last night without waking or getting up once.  I am beginning to adjust to the CPAP machine.
2. Time with friends, and their willingness to share their wisdom and experience with me.
3. I have a wonderful and caring daughter.
4. We are having some nice weather with warmer temperatures and beautiful sunshine.
5. I am getting in the mood to start some seeds for my garden.  
6. My work at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  It is such a beautiful place to spend time. The pictures above are from the Gardener's Show House.

Mystery Cairns in the Garden

Working at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is such a nice escape from the doldrums of an Iowa winter.  I was there on Saturday morning doing maintenance in the Gardener's Show House.  As I was wiping down tables, removing dead leaves from plants, and sweeping up, I discovered these cairns that had been built among the succulents.

A cairn is a man-made pile of stones. They are built as a landmark, a memorial, or a trail marker, and they have been used since prehistoric times. The word cairn, comes from Scottish Gaelic:  carn. Cairns are often placed on a hilltop or at the skyline. These cairns were placed on larger rocks placed among the potted plants. I wouldn't even know what a cairn is, if not for my cousins, Rich and Susan Cairn, who adopted that name when they married.  Seeing these cairns definitely made me think of them.

These are actually mini-cairns, because they are made of pebbles and just an inch or two high.  I don't know if they were built by someone who works in the garden, or a visitor who was passing through, but I hope they remain undisturbed for a while. I always discover something new when I spend time in the Gardener's Show House, and that is such a treat. It really makes me smile.

The seed magazines are starting to arrive in my mailbox, and the gardening programs are showing up on QVC, which I watch a lot.  I am getting the urge to set up my greenhouse shelves and start some seeds, though I know I should probably wait another week or two.  I did dig out some of my Iowa gardening books.  It's not too early to start planning.

I like the ideas suggested in Gardening In Iowa and Surrounding Areas by Veronica Lorson Fowler. She says to set up a three ring notebook.  Draw a plan for the yard and garden.  Take photos of your garden.  Use folders to keep empty seed packets, so you know what to order the next year.  This is right up my alley!  Last year I used a website called, Plangarden.com.  I may do that again, but I kind of like the more hands on approach, drawing my plan and taking photos of my garden.  I may do a combination of the two.  It is just so much fun, to know that it is time to start planning and thinking about my garden.

Gratitude for Today

1. I am grateful for the horticulturists at the Botanical Garden, who work so hard to create and maintain this beautiful place. They are so kind and welcoming, and I am learning from them.
2. I am grateful for the courage to try new things.
3. I am thankful for time at home.

20 Goals for 2020

It's a new year and a new decade, which traditionally is a time for making resolutions.  People joke about how quickly they give up on their resolutions.  For that reason, I am not making resolutions.  I am setting some goals for the new year.  My sister had the idea to make 20 goals or intentions for the year, and I liked the sound of that.

One of my goals for the year is to take time to evaluate what makes me happy and how best to spend my time.  I spend the majority of my time as an AmeriCorps reading tutor, but I also volunteer at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. After this school year, I hope to spend more time working and learning  at the Botanical Garden.

During the summer I was working in the outdoor gardens helping with weeding.  I ran into problems with that around the middle of July.  I started breaking out in hives.  I think it was an allergic reaction to bug bites.  I ended up moving my work inside.  Now I help maintain the Gardener's Show House.  This place is such a gift!  I walk in on Saturday mornings, and I just start smiling. What a wonderful place to go during an Iowa winter, and there is always something new to discover.

There are so many opportunities to help and learn here at the Botanical Garden.  Sometimes I help with classes by serving as a Class Host.  About once a month, I set up a cart and have a display for Pop Up Education.  Most recently I showed people terrariums.  That is another great thing about the garden, there are lots of classes and opportunities to learn more. A couple months ago, I took a class about terrariums, and we made our own.

On Saturdays that I work in the Gardener's Show House, we get there early, before the garden is open.  It is such a blessing to walk around, soaking up the beauty in the quiet of the morning.  Two weeks ago as I was cleaning and wiping down furniture, I noticed this little toad sitting on a window frame.  At first I wasn't sure whether he was real or part of the display.  Suddenly, he leaped into the air.  He was real!  I found him again today.  This time he was sitting between the plants on a table I was cleaning.  It may not be the same toad, but I'm telling myself that he is. 

Another one of my goals for the year is to start blogging again.  I started!

My Gratitude For Today:

• I found the little toad again when I was working in the Gardener's Show House.
• I love the beautiful flowers and plants.
• A new year means lots of opportunities to try and learn new things.

Hidden Beauty

Back when I was in my twenties, I had this idea that as I got older, I would get things figured out, and I would fully understand how the world works and exactly how to live my life.  Now that I’m in my sixties, the one thing I know for sure is there is always more to learn, and it is unlikely I will ever understand other people when I’m still trying to figure out myself.  The positive in that is, I get to keep growing and learning and trying new things. 

All summer I have been trying to get control of my yard.  The flower beds and garden were totally overgrown, by the time I was able to work on them.  I have been working on them almost every day, except on those days when the weather won’t cooperate.  This week it is expected to be in the nineties every day, so that will limit my yard work time. 

Over the weekend I began cutting down weeds and brush in the flowerbed by my garage.  As I cleared away the unwanted overgrowth, I discovered these beautiful Day Lilies and Purple Coneflower, hidden among the brush and weeds.  Now that the clutter is gone, these beautiful plants will be able to flourish.  No matter how much the weeds tried to take over the garden, these flowers prevailed

I think that can be true about us as humans as well.  Get rid of the negative thoughts.  Get rid of the self doubt.  Be willing to take risks, try something new, and learn.  Discover the beauty within ourselves, and let it grow.

I have been trying to do some of that this summer by working at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I have taught at the same school for 29 years, and it is still home.  But I am enjoying this new adventure in this new setting.  It is an opportunity to meet new people and try new things, and I am learning something new every day that I go.

   

• I am grateful for beautiful flowers.
• I am thankful for strength and perseverance.
• I am grateful for all the opportunities to grow and learn.

Summer Vacation

Gratitude Day #12

I haven't written a gratitude post in quite a while.  Now that it is summer vacation, hopefully I will find more time to blog.  We are actually three weeks into summer vacation, but the first week was devoted to helping my sister move.  I'm not sure what happened to the second week.  I have been spending a lot of time working in my yard.  I am way behind on weeding and planting my garden, but I will get there.

I also started volunteering in Horticulture at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I have helped with some events and classes.  This summer I am helping to maintain the Ruan Alee Walkway.  Each Wednesday morning I am spending two hours weeding and working on the flower beds.  These first few weeks that also involves deadheading the irises.

This morning was cool and cloudy.  We are there before the garden opens, so it is peaceful.  It is hard physical work, but I enjoy the beauty that surrounds me.

I love the beauty of the gardens, the river, and view of the downtown Des Moines skyline.

Another bonus is walking through the water garden.  I love all the water lilies.  If you go, however, please don't throw money in there.  It isn't helpful.

1. I am grateful for having the time and freedom to do something completely different during the summer.
2. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time in a beautiful place.
3. I am thankful for another chance to learn new things.

Earth Day Celebration

Gratitude Day #10

Today was the Earth Day Celebration at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  This afternoon I helped with a Propagation Activity.  I hadn't volunteered there since spring break.  I'm always nervous when I am about to do one of these activities, but I am so glad that I did it.  I always learn something new.  The people who work and volunteer there are so nice, and the people coming through are happy and enthusiastic about trying our activities.

It was a truly gorgeous day, so it was fun to walk around in the outside gardens.  Daffodils and tulips are in bloom, and they are so beautiful.  I did a little tour of the gardens before I went into the Kemin Plant Sciences Lab for the propagation activity. 

For our activity people took a pot that I learned how to make out of newspaper.  They filled it about half way full with potting soil.  Then they planted a cutting from a Sansevieria plant.  This plant is commonly called a Snake Plant or Mother-in-law's Tongue.  We had lots and lots of people who came through the lab, so it was a busy and fun day.

I loved this little tool for making the paper pots.  I think I need to get one of these.

1. I am grateful for the knowledge of the people who work and volunteer at the Botanical Garden.  I learn from them every time I go.
2. I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time in such a beautiful place.
3. I am grateful for my little Snake Plant cutting. I hope it grows into a big plant.