We embark this weekend on a series of days that聽form a聽sort of Trinity that聽is worthy of聽attention.
Today, the first day of Passover, begins a major Jewish spring festival that remembers the people鈥檚 liberation from Egypt as the plague that destroyed the firstborn in each home fell on聽the Egyptians and passed over聽without touching Israelite homes marked with the blood of聽a聽lamb.
Tomorrow, Easter Sunday, Christians will celebrate the triumph over death of the 鈥淟amb of聽God,鈥� whose blood was shed to deliver salvation.
Completing the trinity of days on Monday, Earth Day will call on people to recognize the world of nature as the world upon which all life depends. As we celebrate and appreciate the beautiful planet that is our home, current news reports remind us to examine the effects of human activity on this earthly paradise: dangerously rising temperatures in our country; increasing rates of childhood asthma connected with poor air quality; raging forest fires and smoky air.
Common themes of all three days of remembrance are deliverance, and the need for redemptive action.
All this to ponder as our gardens, liberated from winter鈥檚 grip, rise to new life. A sign of hope, surely. Those of us fortunate enough to have a tiny speck of Earth under our temporary care have it within our power to keep at least that bit clean, and maintained with a certain redemptive simplicity.
It is possible to manage a simple, clean, and naturally Earth-friendly environment in gardens. For almost four decades now, without the use of pesticides or any chemically treated fertilizers, I have grown a good portion of my聽own fruits, berries and vegetables along with flowers, shrubs and trees.
All plant debris, except for woody materials and weeds gone to seed, are composted in a series of three-sided open brickwork enclosures against a side fence. Currently, I鈥檓 emptying the ones with 鈥渇inished鈥� compost onto vegetable plots in preparation for聽planting. The composting area聽is the nurturing heart of the聽garden, its recycling depot.
My garden, carved out of a second growth cedar and fir forest, remains surrounded by giant forest trees that produce large blocks of shade and feeder roots growing into planting areas. Still, with generous composting the soil remains productive. And I聽value the significant number of native forest plants that remain.
Red huckleberry shrubs and sword ferns, salal and Cascade Oregon grape grow throughout the garden. Several patches of聽vanilla leaf at garden edges create聽decorative carpets of bright green.
A large clearing behind the garden shed has been left in its natural state. It鈥檚 just been cleaned of excess debris that accumulates over the winter. I聽especially wanted to clear an聽area that holds a large patch of聽starflowers that I want to grow聽and bloom free of twigs and聽branches fallen from overhanging trees.
Starflowers present a charming sight in May, as thin stalks rise from low-growing whorls of shiny leaves to produce little white to blush pink flowers that appear to float above the leaves like tiny woodland stars. The natural world is lovely.
May this be a weekend filled with gratitude, and a recognition that deliverance and redemption are ongoing.
GARDEN EVENTS
Earth Day celebration. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in聽Saanich, is hosting Earth Day in the Gardens on Monday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet and interact with Earth-minded community groups and green businesses. Admission is free and includes access to聽inspiring demonstration gardens, master gardeners, and interactive children鈥檚 activities. At 11 a.m. there will聽be a presentation on Creating Frog-Friendly Spaces in your Backyard or聽Garden. A talk at 1 p.m. is on Pollinators and the Importance of Habitat聽and Native Plants hcp.ca.
Orchid meeting. The public is invited to聽the Victoria Orchid Society鈥檚 Orchid Auction on Monday in Gordon Head United Church Hall, 4201 Tyndall Ave. The聽plants may be observed beginning at聽7 p.m., with the bidding starting soon聽after 7:30. This is an opportunity to聽select from a wide range of orchids not available locally. Photos will be projected on聽a聽screen for plants not currently in聽bloom at sale time.
Abkhazi Garden volunteering. Abkhazi聽Garden, 1964 Fairfield Rd. in聽Victoria, is聽seeking volunteers for gardening and greeting visitors for three聽hours a week. Plant knowledge is聽not essential, but enthusiasm for beautiful gardens is an asset. Contact聽[email protected] 辞谤听250-479-8053.
