Reflecting back on this last year:

A year has passed since I began my new full-time journey working as a small business owner, gardener, herbalist, product manufacturer, financial officer, marketer… what a ride it has been.  Some days feel so wonderfully freeing, like an eagle soaring in the windy blue sky.  Others seem overwhelmingly busy with a multitude of tasks to maintain, new ideas to formulate into motion and all of the current responsibilities to remember.

Thank goodness for my daily planner.  At the beginning of each week, I write down all that I want to accomplish for the week and each day, I fill in the daily slots the tasks I’m doing for that particular day.  When I first started doing this, I didn’t check as many things off the list…they seemed to carry over into the next week oftentimes.  But now, after doing this for almost a year, my body, mind and spirit has become accustomed to the routine.  I check almost everything off each week. Making those little checkmarks beside each completed item is very satisfying, like a kid in a candy store.

We live in such a magical place in these San Juan Islands!  As I am riding the ferry right now, writing this blog, I notice all of the beauty surrounding me…the silvery, calm water, the fresh, new green growth on the trees, the panoramic views across the islands…taking the time to notice these ‘common-place’ scenes (for me) helps me remember why I decided to change my lifestyle.

The magic in the garden right now is delightful! Colors of purple, red, orange, yellow, white, blue, and pink flourish the spiraling pathways. Hummingbirds, savannah swallows, butterflies and bees happily fly and bounce from flower to flower pollinating. Nick’s metal art and the glasswork from our daughter, Chyanne, and other artists, decorate and provide little surprises as you walk.  The bees’ low hum around the raspberries creates anticipation for ‘soon-to-be’ picking and tasting juicy sweet, tart red fruit.

Someone asked me the other day, “Did you grow everything here (in the garden) from seed”?  My response was simple at the time, “Many things are from seed, but many are also from starts”.  After thinking about this though, the answer to this question is much more exciting!  When I look at every plant in our garden, there is unique story.  Some seeds are seeds that I started, some other friends helped me start.  The starts are from locals mostly, friends sharing their extras with me, contributing to the labyrinth, thinking of our garden.  I remember my conversations with the people who sold me the plants of those purchase starts.  When I think about the garden, my heart fills with love and joy.  So much has happened in these last three years related to this beautiful garden!  I am so thankful to have my life and to be able to share with others, the space that Nick, my husband, and I have created together.  Our garden is our like our child.

Please stop by and visit sometime, to see ‘Whispers of Nature’ prospering in the sweet labyrinth garden!

In gratitude,

Susie