This is something I put together last year as an ode to the garden I created.

It is a small miracle that in two weeks after I received this Princesse Charlene de Monaco that she bloomed for me. It was a tiny plant and I was resigned to having to wait a season to see what she would do. What a beautiful creature she is and I cannot wait until she is full grown and blooming.

On January 20-21st of this year, I took advantage of two bounties of nature: the moon and the drenching rain. The moon was not only a blood moon, but a supermoon that was going into a full lunar eclipse. I had found myself obsessed with meditating with crystals and came upon an idea of collecting rain water to make full moon water for use in ritual.

You make moon water by collecting water into clear glass bottles and letting them bathe under the moon light of a full moon. The water I was making was extra special. The water I collected was from the the first real storm of the season. It absolutely drenched us and came upon this extra spectacular moon and lunar eclipse. It was a wolf moon. The wolf moon's symbolism is wrapped up in looking to the community to come up with creative and resourceful ideas in bleak times.

It is an opportunity to open oneself up to the endless possibilities. It wasn't just the first moon, wolf moon, was it. It was a blood moon that represents cleansing and positive change.  Since it is an eclipse, it represents a reset of emotions and an invitation to let go of baggage.  One Astrologist suggest that the main theme of this moon is gaining, achieving, manifesting, gaining more than you are asking for. A lot of times we ask for what we think is realistic. The moon was also a super moon, which means it was closest to the earth, so its power can be felt more.

Another Astrologist says about this moon, "Overall, this Eclipse represents a time where we can birth ourselves, our past, our creations, our wounds, and our self-expression out into the world. This “birthing” process is one we may feel either on a creative level or on a level that allows us to release and let go."

My philosophy is that even if the planets and stars do not direct humanity as Astrologists suggest, enough of humanity believes it does to make a difference. As a gardener, it is always prudent to be in tuned with the seasons, sun and darkness, and nature in general. Who am I to say that the moon does not have power?

So, I collected water and let it bathe under a super special moonlight. Then, last night, under the Rose moon or Strawberry full moon, I watered all my new roses with that water while wishing them and myself well.

This talk of miracles and spirituality doesn't mean that I reject science.  Science will always win the day and I trust the wisdom of the Scientific Method. I believe as the scientists do in the threat of global warming, the benefit of vaccines, and that we are all made of "star stuff."  It is that last notion that opens me into the concept that we have kinship with the natural world. My Buddhism informs me of the concept of indira's net, that we are all interconnected and interdependent with all sentient beings. It opens me to different cultural ideas about ritual and symbolism of moons, weather, seasons, plants, minerals, and animals.

So far I think that these rituals have had an affirmative effect as getting out and garden has. Both activities have forced me outdoors and into the elements. Both have gotten me to look outside of myself, into nature, into Seasons,  and up to the cosmos.

Photo credit: Giverny Impressions

One of my inspirations for my garden is Monet’s garden at Giverny. Inspiration doesn’t mean duplication. You cannot duplicate Giverny. Giverny is Giverny. What you can do is borrow the spirit of the painterliness of Monet’s garden. You can look at the plant lists of the garden and see what would grow and what is available from them.
I have had the opportunity to see many exhibitions of the Impressionists including most if not all Monet’s works. Just recently I saw his later works which was devoted to painting his garden. Which if I had his garden, that is what I would do.
I also had the pleasure and honor of visiting Butchart Gardens in Victoria BC. At some point I will post pictures I took of Butchart Gardens. While not a cottage garden, I let that garden inspire my cottage garden in progress.
What inspires your garden?
https://www.homegardencompanion.com/flowers-that-monet-gre…/

In my front yard I already had Generous Gardener, Golden Celebration, Gentle Hermoine, and Wild Eve. This spring, I ordered Creme de la Creme, Molineux, Zephrine, Teasing Georgia, Lady Banks, Hot Cocoa, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Tranquility, Leonardo Di Vinci, Florentina, The Pilgrim, Michelangelo, Colette, Mary, Heirloom, Apricot Impressionist, Moonlight Romantica, and Gertrude Jekyll. The new roses are just baby roses now and it is unclear if I will get any flowers this season. I have put them in pots for now, but I ultimately plan to put them in the ground with english, french, and other lavenders as well as other perennials that attract bees, butterflies, humming birds, and other pollenators. 
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