When the predicted snowstorm didn’t happen this morning and new predictions indicated the snow would start much later in the day, I went out this morning
In Search of Green
I needed a dose of plant medicine to counteract my winter blues. So I drove to Tonkadale Greenhouse in Minnetonka and wandered through the greenery, soaking up the sights and smells.
Ahhhh…
“We sat in silence, letting the green in the air heal what it could.”
― The Scent Keeper
I thought the greenhouse might be deserted on this gray Monday morning. But I was surprised by the number of people wandering through the greenery. It seems I’m not the only person who needed a dose of green medicine today.
Sleeping Trees
My longing for green feels like a deep longing for the flow of life to make itself manifest around me. Though I know that the trees are simply sleeping until the weather warms, their bare gray trunks and limbs look dead to my eyes. I long to see the electric green of new leaves on the trees in a couple of months. And I wonder, do trees also dream of springtime? Despite their long winter sleep, I consider trees some of my favorite relatives and feel deeply connected to them.
“All the green in the planted world consists of these whole, rounded chloroplasts wending their ways in water. If you analyze a molecule of chlorophyll itself, what you get is one hundred thirty-six atoms of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen arranged in an exact and complex relationship around a central ring. At the ring’s center is a single atom of magnesium. Now: If you remove the atom of magnesium and in its exact place put an atom of iron, you get a molecule of hemoglobin. The iron atom combines with all the other atoms to make red blood, the streaming red dots in the goldfish’s tail.”
― Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Last week I ordered garden seeds for my summer container garden and decided to try starting my own herb plants from seed (parsley, basil, and oregano). So I picked up some organic seed starter medium, some peat pots and a small covered seed starting tray while I was at the greenhouse. Now I just need to find my fluorescent plant light and I’ll be ready to start herb seeds soon.
Even though I would have loved to bring home a bunch of new green plants from the greenhouse I resisted the temptation. Instead I will plan another visit to a greenhouse soon. And I think that I’ll also plan a visit to the Como Park Conservatory in the next week or so.
Are you also longing to see green this time of year?
May you walk in beauty.
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