Last week I gave the Limelight Hydrangeas a heavy prune just before the first blast of cold temps swept in. Since these are paniculata hydrangeas, they will withstand hard pruning in late fall, winter, or early spring because they bloom on new wood. (More on that in a different post) When all was done though, I found it difficult to part with all the large dried blossoms. I decided to keep a few and bring them indoors, a practice I’d reserved for ‘living’ blooms only. I selected the heaviest glass vase to support the weight and started arranging them one stem at a time. As I lifted each stem, I marveled at the size and kept thinking back to summer and how magnificent they were then, and how beautiful they were still. Now, I don’t endorse this type of arrangement for a proper dining setting, but it does work well as a decorative display. I flanked the arrangement with platters of ornamental pumpkins which were grown in the vegetable garden. Voila! A beautiful autumnal arrangement. So, why hang on to this stuff? Well, it’s complicated, but I’ll try to explain it.
Gardening has deepened my connection with the earth. And more than that, it has led me to investigate the relationships that all living things share. This is especially true of the relationship we have with time. Every day, every season, every year. Passing, passing, passing. The garden is a reminder that nothing lasts. Still, between all the passing stages, we get a transition phase. And it’s what you do with the transition that enables you to pass onto the next phase smoothly. Steadily. These little pumpkins and dried hydrangeas, they’re part of my transition phase. A reminder of what was accomplished. Evidence of something beautiful. And more importantly, inspiration for what is possible.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Savor the moments.