Page 19 - Fourways Gardens September 2021

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THE SECRETS OUR GARdENS HOLd Image credit: Esther Chilcutte

B y m iche LL e L. R a ymond
I t is that time of year again. The birds are building their nests, And for the bird lovers:

trees are bearing new leaves, and new buds are sprouting, all in
What is a garden without birds
but a life only the deaf and blind could comprehend?
preparation for the abundance of summer.
What secret songs do they sing
It is also a great time to get stuck into the garden, clear out the old whistling among themselves through the trees?
and dead and make space for the new. We can see them if only we look.
We can hear them if only we hear.
Of course, gardening is more than just adhering to the standards We can understand them, if only we invite them
of the HOAs and keeping up appearances. To many, gardening is a into our gardens.
way of connecting to a tiny piece of nature. Not only can a garden
produce an aesthetically pleasing environment, but it also holds a Secret 3 – Sustenance
few secrets – if we are willing to pay attention. A man, let’s call him Steve, visited a nursery in March 2020.
Perhaps he knew something about the challenges ahead
Secret 1 – Grounding and wanted to be prepared. He purchased a large number of
This is a fancy word for walking or standing barefoot on the earth. vegetables and fruit trees. The owner approached Steve to ask
The benefits to our well-being that science shows is extraordinary what he was planning to do with all the plants. Steve said he
– not that I need peer-reviewed papers to convince me. The feeling wanted to completely redesign his garden to be fully sustainable
I get from having the grass or sand beneath my feet is evidence for the coming months ahead and beyond. The owner, curious
enough for me. Nonetheless, here is what the medical journals are about this plan, told him that he would have way too much
saying about the power of connecting our feet to the earth: produce to consume just for himself. Steve, without hesitation,
Grounding (earthing) has an effect on inflammation, the immune responded that he intends to share the yield with his neighbours
response, wound healing, and the prevention and treatment of chronic and community.
inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Oschman JL, Chevalier G, Brown R.J Inflamm Res. 2015 Mar 24;8:83-96. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S69656. Imagine a world like that? One in which we all share in each other’s
harvest. It is true that what we sow, we reap – but what we share
Secret 2 – Bees, Birds and Bugs creates abundance.
We have all heard about the importance of bees and their role in
the ecosystem. It is easier, I suppose, to market how important Thank you to Fanie and the staff from The Farm Nursery in Beverley
bees are because of what they produce: honey – the sweet by- for the passion, knowledge and enthusiasm you have. And also for
product of hard work, dedication and brilliant organisation sharing that inspiring story with me.
– qualities that are so admirable to us humans. But what about
the ants, the chafer beetles, the earthworms and the woodlice? Spring, with its blooms, blossoms and sprouts, is a reminder to
Trish Walton Fourways Gardens They, too, play a vital role in the delicate balance of nature, and pause and marvel at the wonder and the secrets our gardens hold.

082 442 9112 their systems are equally extraordinary. Maybe one day, through Why else would it want to show off?
011 467 3233 Specialist biomimicry or entomology, we will learn their secrets too and
trish.walton@seeff.com then appreciate them for it. Visit www.michellelraymond.com for more.

Fourways Gardens • 17 • September 2021