I am glad you have this seed saving and the restoration project to focus on now. Also glad you have knowledgeable helpers to guide your efforts. Keeping a yard journal along with your photos will be very useful as the years go by. It is the only way I can keep some plant names to memory! :-)
Perfectly okay to do whatever you have to do to get through hunting season. I spend more time at the library and local 2nd hand stores. Might be interesting for you to do a little free-lance interviews about how people are doing now. I always wish there would be more follow-up stories after such things as hurricanes.
Great idea, Sandy. Thank you! I saw another writer take a break from the post-Helene stories, offering up joy, so I decided to do the same here. But ... the hurricane recovery is far from over, you're right, and there will be more stories about that. Hopefully ones of long-term recovery and rebuilding.
I wonder about things like how kids continue their schooling, and who has to move and where? And about how these storms affect home owners insurance. Do any businesses benefit from new business in the aftermath? Do any people find work opportunities? I would love to hear that such things help with the recovery.
About the downed trees, when this happened (on a much smaller scale) in my old woods, I noticed different plants and animals took shelter in those spots in the following years. Perhaps because birds left droppings that contained seeds? The deer in particular liked to shelter there.
So lovely that you noticed those things, Sandy! I will look for them. It's miraculous how nature adapts to tragedy and moves on. Such a teaching for us frail humans!
I understand how recent events may make one feel frail. But I encourage you to remind yourself of how we humans are also full of strengths. Tough times can bring our strengths to the forefront. It can happen almost without thought. Our talents and abilities come from a deep well that we can draw from to get whatever needs to be done, done. I try to pay attention to what my mind dwells upon at stressful times. It is surprising to learn that we really do have a choice in what we think about! And how we think about it. Sending you strength!
Seed collecting is one of my FAVORITE activities. Your native meadow is beautiful. As gardeners, we’re ever hopeful for the future as we collect seeds & plant seedlings despite the heaviness of loss we’ve all experienced in the path of Hellene. I’ll send up a prayer for your bears as well. Blessings to you, my friend! 💜
The native plants are fulfilling to read about! How lovely to have them growing with you, and what a neat way to preserve and keep their presences continuing.
Glad you liked it, Jenny! I sure hope the presences of those little plants will continue. I was thrilled to see them bright and cheerful and looking totally normal, the morning after the hurricane.
I loved this, Jeanne, being a lover of native meadows and a seed collector, too. It did my heart well to read this as we head back to Asheville.
Nature does heal, but assistance is always welcome. I’m definitely going to support native tree planting initiatives as well as riverside habitat restoration. I’m readying myself for the forest and riverside damage as well as loss of trees in our old neighborhoods, including ours.
I’m hoping that many of the downed trees in our neighborhood will have been removed by now. Sigh. Self-centered for me, when there have been so many losses. But I know grieving time is coming.
This year I planted a wildlife and pollinator garden in our backyard that really took off. The one before was a total failure and I almost gave up. I'm glad that I didn't. I specifically planted wildflowers native to SW MO.
I've seen many more insects, birds, and occasional wildlife in our yard this year, which was very gratifying. I moved most of our bird feeders back there because we have a local red tailed hawk (maybe two). There's much more cover for the birds in the back, but there's been a few casualties. They need to eat, too...
When we lived in Northern Wisconsin, we dreaded deer season because of all the idiots from out of state. They regularly trespassed and shot across our land. There were a few people hurt or killed every year. It was so bad that we kept our elementary school age kids inside for deer season.
Wow, Gregg, horrible story about deer season in Wisconsin -- jeez! As for your wildlife/pollinator garden, it sounds wonderful. I'm glad you figured out the formula for success. Using local species seems to be the key, yes! I bet you are enjoying all those wild visitors who come to enjoy your garden.
The hope that drives this project warms me. You show how every plant is forever, with care like this.
"...every plant is forever ..." -- how wonderful, Ann! Thank you for that.
I am glad you have this seed saving and the restoration project to focus on now. Also glad you have knowledgeable helpers to guide your efforts. Keeping a yard journal along with your photos will be very useful as the years go by. It is the only way I can keep some plant names to memory! :-)
Perfectly okay to do whatever you have to do to get through hunting season. I spend more time at the library and local 2nd hand stores. Might be interesting for you to do a little free-lance interviews about how people are doing now. I always wish there would be more follow-up stories after such things as hurricanes.
Great idea, Sandy. Thank you! I saw another writer take a break from the post-Helene stories, offering up joy, so I decided to do the same here. But ... the hurricane recovery is far from over, you're right, and there will be more stories about that. Hopefully ones of long-term recovery and rebuilding.
I wonder about things like how kids continue their schooling, and who has to move and where? And about how these storms affect home owners insurance. Do any businesses benefit from new business in the aftermath? Do any people find work opportunities? I would love to hear that such things help with the recovery.
About the downed trees, when this happened (on a much smaller scale) in my old woods, I noticed different plants and animals took shelter in those spots in the following years. Perhaps because birds left droppings that contained seeds? The deer in particular liked to shelter there.
So lovely that you noticed those things, Sandy! I will look for them. It's miraculous how nature adapts to tragedy and moves on. Such a teaching for us frail humans!
I understand how recent events may make one feel frail. But I encourage you to remind yourself of how we humans are also full of strengths. Tough times can bring our strengths to the forefront. It can happen almost without thought. Our talents and abilities come from a deep well that we can draw from to get whatever needs to be done, done. I try to pay attention to what my mind dwells upon at stressful times. It is surprising to learn that we really do have a choice in what we think about! And how we think about it. Sending you strength!
Thank you, Sandy, for those wise and loving words!
Seed collecting is one of my FAVORITE activities. Your native meadow is beautiful. As gardeners, we’re ever hopeful for the future as we collect seeds & plant seedlings despite the heaviness of loss we’ve all experienced in the path of Hellene. I’ll send up a prayer for your bears as well. Blessings to you, my friend! 💜
Thank you especially for the bear prayer, Becki. They need it. 🙏🏽
I enjoyed that clip of walking on the crisp leaves - beautiful sounds and lighting from the Autumn Sun.
Glad you went along for that brief stroll, Neil!
I love the concept of your hyperlocal meadow, how beautiful
Thank you, Juliet! I give all the credit to Cory and Jon. I told them I wanted native, and they refined the idea into something so special!
Such a beautiful practice of restoration, touches me and leaves me smiling, thank you
Thank you, Sally! I'm glad this gave you a smile.
And seed collecting inspiration!
What a lovely thing to be doing, Jeanne. I’m glad it brought you light after so much darkness 💙
Thank you, Amanda. Yes ... light!
Love this. I am an absolute beginner, but have started seed collecting as well. It is a joyful practice.
Me too, MK (a beginner). But so far, yes, it's joyful. I'm glad you're discovering it too!
The native plants are fulfilling to read about! How lovely to have them growing with you, and what a neat way to preserve and keep their presences continuing.
Glad you liked it, Jenny! I sure hope the presences of those little plants will continue. I was thrilled to see them bright and cheerful and looking totally normal, the morning after the hurricane.
They are survivors for sure. Long may they live!
I loved this, Jeanne, being a lover of native meadows and a seed collector, too. It did my heart well to read this as we head back to Asheville.
Nature does heal, but assistance is always welcome. I’m definitely going to support native tree planting initiatives as well as riverside habitat restoration. I’m readying myself for the forest and riverside damage as well as loss of trees in our old neighborhoods, including ours.
Thanks for telling this story.
You're welcome, Lisa, and good luck upon your return. At least you'll be seeing it all mid-recovery. Things are already looking significantly better.
I’m hoping that many of the downed trees in our neighborhood will have been removed by now. Sigh. Self-centered for me, when there have been so many losses. But I know grieving time is coming.
This year I planted a wildlife and pollinator garden in our backyard that really took off. The one before was a total failure and I almost gave up. I'm glad that I didn't. I specifically planted wildflowers native to SW MO.
I've seen many more insects, birds, and occasional wildlife in our yard this year, which was very gratifying. I moved most of our bird feeders back there because we have a local red tailed hawk (maybe two). There's much more cover for the birds in the back, but there's been a few casualties. They need to eat, too...
When we lived in Northern Wisconsin, we dreaded deer season because of all the idiots from out of state. They regularly trespassed and shot across our land. There were a few people hurt or killed every year. It was so bad that we kept our elementary school age kids inside for deer season.
Wow, Gregg, horrible story about deer season in Wisconsin -- jeez! As for your wildlife/pollinator garden, it sounds wonderful. I'm glad you figured out the formula for success. Using local species seems to be the key, yes! I bet you are enjoying all those wild visitors who come to enjoy your garden.
Please do save some of your seed harvest for the NC mountain pollinators, and encourage others to do the same.
Great idea, Sharon -- thank you!
So glad you had this day of restoration , renewal and hope. May it continue to grow in every way.
A wonderful wish, Allison ... thank you, my friend! And I'm sending the same back to you.
I enjoy seed collecting this time of year, anticipating new plants in spring.
Yes! It's the connection to spring, isn't it??
Yes!
Beautiful. 💗
Thank you, Leah! I appreciate that.
I'm so happy to hear about your perfect day!
Thank you, Paul! I also walked on some beautiful moss. 😄
That's always fun!