written by Meghan Hollister
The spring solstice has a funny way of infusing my spirit with life. Days lengthen, energy is refreshed, and life begins to stir. Birdsong greets the morning with sunlight that has already been waiting, almost offensive in its motivation, on its effortless celestial path that nudges life along. This is a time of excitement. It’s in this time that the garden starts to awaken.
Drawing on the years of experience tending my backyard food forest garden, this is my first spring time with the pleasure of anticipating a native prairie garden. I approach this new venture with a renewed sense of wonder and respect for the intricate balance of nature.
I planted my front yard “micro prairie” in late May of last year. As the saying goes with native plants: Year 1 is “Sleep”, Year 2 is “Creep” and Year 3: is Leap. With last season’s severe lack of rain, the few blooms I received felt like nothing short of a miracle. This year however, I am eagerly anticipating, investigating: what has started to awaken?
There have been times where I’ve wondered with a giggle what my neighbors may be thinking as I belly up to this new growth, as if to see from the plants’ perspective. The plants have the best view after all. Actually, maybe the neighbors do too.
Sometimes, I’ll shuffle through the mulch impatiently, to find out if an anticipated sprout has in fact made it through the previous season. Feel the earth. Watch the sun. Listen. Collect visual data, inspiration, wishes. It’s all part of the process.
Meghan is a multidisciplinary midwestern creative. Find her on Facebook at Studio 2.