PRESENTS

Vertical Gardening

Vertical gardening is the practice of growing plants in or on walls or in vertical layers within a structure, rather than in horizontal spaces on-or-in the ground.

This method of landscape or agriculture culture can be used to provide a purely decorative garden effect for foliage plants or flowers and/or to grow an edible crop of vegetables and herbs in a relevantly small or confined area.

These gardens can be as minimal as having a few container modules or vines on a wall to the entire side of large downtown city building. There are almost unlimited possibilities, but the basic idea is that you are growing upwards, thereby using less space rather than laterally outward and thereby minimizing the space on any given horizontal surface.

Desirable factors that occur when creating vertical gardens are generally having to use little or no soil and less irrigation. Soil born pathogens or insects are less likely to infest aerial crops and if they do, they are more easily seen and treated. It is also often much easier to maintain your crops when they are more accessible at walking or sitting heights rather than having to bend or sit on the ground. This can also be a great asset in an enabling garden where a user may be in wheelchairs or on walkers.

But perhaps the biggest advantage to growing vertically is having to use less space. This allows want-to-be residential farmers to find limited spaces in their house environs, balconies or porches to grow the best herbs and vegetables or simply surround themselves with foliage and flowers. Even cellars may be an acceptable venue with the use of various grow-light options.

•These walled or free standing mounted systems are essentially indoor/outdoor modular planters with several levels of vertically spaced containers or planters.

•  This vertical design saves space and water as irrigation water flows through a sprinkler system passing from the top containers down to all the lower containers and then usually recycled back to the top containers to continue the process.

•Different sizes of these structures can be used to fit the designer’s needs. They can be tall with multiple levels of plants for a larger garden, or it can be built lower to the ground for easier access.

•Using the vertical space instead of horizontal space is an important feature for those sites short of planting area such as the normal situation within condominiums or apartments with small balconies or perhaps with a rooftop available for this function.

•Vertical gardens can be custom designed and created for the specific space desired or purchased ready-made in modular forms from manufacturers of these systems.

• The various vertical plantings systems used may be described as;

1. Traditional: These would be elevated plantings using soil as the growing medium.This is the standard method of growing plant material and one that we are all used to. The growing medium is always soil and soil additives placed in containers of many descriptions with irrigation being supplied manually or automatically as desired.

2. Hydroponics: Elevated systems growing plantings in water.

This is a technique of growing plants in nutrient solutions that contain water and fertilizers with or without using an artificial medium such as sand, gravel, etc. Since hydroponically grown plants are not embedded into a soil medium they absorb required nutrients from the provided nutrient solution. The artificial medium provides mechanical support, moisture, and retains nutrients.

There are six basic types of hydroponics systems depending on the nutrient supplying method. They are as follows:

•  Wick system

•  Water culture system

•  Ebb and flow (flood and drain) system

•  Drip systems (recovery/ non- recovery)

•  Nutrient film technique (NFT)

3. Aeroponics: Elevated systems growing plantings in recycled water. Aeroponics is a form of hydroponics where plants roots are suspended in a chamber and nutrient solution is sprayed from below. This air culture does not require a growing medium like in other hydroponic systems (except for NFT). Spraying exposed roots with a  nutrient solution allows roots to absorb more oxygen than would be the case in the soil (geoponic) system. It has been reported that, in air culture, plant growth and metabolism rate increased ten times than that of soil.

4. Vertical farming, (From Wikipedia) is the commercial practice of producing food in vertically stacked layers, such as in a skyscraper, used warehouse, or shipping container. The modern ideas of vertical farming use indoor farming techniques and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) technology, where all environmental factors can be controlled. These facilities utilize artificial control of light, environmental control (humidity, temperature, gases…) and fertigation. Some vertical farms use techniques similar to greenhouses, where natural sunlight can be augmented with artificial lighting and metal reflectors.

This very brief article along with the pictures and videos provided should give you some idea of how this very useful and fun and environmentally sound method of agriculture can be. With a little research you can discover how to create your own vertical gardens, or you can purchase a ready made system designed for your circumstances and needs.

Visit the Facebook Vertical Gardening Community
http://on.fb.me/HmllNU

Book Of The Month

How to Create Beautiful Vertical Gardens, Container Gardens and Aeroponic Vertical Gardens at Home
by Tom Corson-Knowles

The post Vertical Gardening appeared first on Garden Gateways.

VISIT A GARDEN TODAY!

Garden Tours Provide an Escape from the Hectic World

by N. Paul Paulus

In this hectic, stressed and over committed society we are a part of these days, why would you ever want to commit a few precious hours to walk leisurely through beautiful and tranquil surroundings with garden tours? And why would you ever want to subject yourself or your loved ones to a breath of fresh air and the hint of a flowers fragrance carried on the breeze? What if you had to actually gaze at beautiful plants and flowers and an occasional lovely person? And worse yet, what if there are butterflies fluttering out of control in your own personal air space?

Do I really have to answer that?

If you havenʼt resolved these questions for yourself by now, you have a severe need to experience a certain green kind of rehabilitation. It is essential that you start your own rehab now or at least begin some nature infused preventative action immediately.

However, many people need more than common sense or logic to urge them to pry their eyes and fingers from their computers or divorce their TVʼs or abandon the office, even if it will renew their body and spirit. That is why I am offering a few solid reasons for you to grab your mate, drag your kids or even your dog and get to a garden of your choice. If they donʼt let the dog in, leave the dog home, get a dog sitter and go anyway. The same goes for the kids, but I assure you that they will be most welcome at any worthwhile garden. Those gardens could be public, private or even ones created by nature itself, which has been known to create a good landscape or two. The chosen garden tours just need to be primarily green places with fresh air, very few discordant distractions, elements of color and interest and hope- fully a few birds and butterflies and even fewer annoying insects.

Solid reason #1: Family interaction.

Watching television together is a great family activity on an occasional basis, but it shouldnʼt be the only joint activity for all family members to enjoy together. Strolling through a garden however, offers a different perspective and experience. The adults may simply walk together and enjoy each otherʼs company all the while absorbing the beauty and interests of the elements surrounding them. Children will more than likely break away and seek adventure even while still in view of their parents. They will often make many discoveries of plants, flowers or various small critters that they will want to share with their parents. In this venue the family is more alive and connected than they would be when lost in their own absorption of a movie at home. It is unlikely that you will see a bored looking family in a garden on a beautiful day even if they did grumble and frown while being forced to leave home to go to that garden in the first place.

Solid reason #2: Health and Exercise.

Unless you are a person who regularly exercises and loves the feeling that exercise gives you, it is difficult getting physical. But remember, walking is one of the best and least offensive means to accomplish toning up your legs, arms and lungs. Strolling is not as vigorous an exercise as running, but you can generally do it for longer periods of time and unless you are looking for an anaerobic experience it will do just about as much good. Without foregoing the experience of stopping to smell the roses, attempt to keep up a good pace when it makes sense to do so. Breath deeply and regularly to acquire the maximum healthy benefits of reveling in the outdoors. Walking impaired visitors to the gardens are always welcome and benefit from the movement throughout the garden tours as well.

Solid reason #3: Education.

Education is a great thing as long as it isnʼt obvious that this is what is taking place. If you are the one reading this, donʼt tell the ones you are going to the garden with, that education is on the agenda. It will happen because once there, you will start reading identification tags, if they are in place. You may hear others brag about their knowledge of this plant or that and if you have your children with you, they will quickly inform you about all the nature around you, because their teachers often beat you to the punch when introducing kids to the wonders of their surroundings. You may even inquire about the elements you see and if no one can tell you what it is, you can Google it later. Take a picture. In fact, take a lot of pictures.

Solid reason #4: Spirituality.

Receiving an injection of spirituality is a nice thing to have happen to you. To acquire this feeling you do not have to be religious, although that may be one way to experience this particular sensation. Many people are pleasantly surprised that there is a subtle sensibility of being connected with nature that occurs when they enter a really nice natural or designed landscape. It can be like the sensation you might experience when entering an impressive church interior, particularly when it is quiet and the lighting is perfect.

Iʼm not suggesting that you might be suddenly overcome and experience a condition of awe or become thunderstruck with emotion inside a designed or natural landscape. However that might be something to look forward to. I am simply suggesting that you could easily ac- quire a state of connecting with nature and that is a worthy goal in itself. It will leave you relaxed and with an elevated emotional sense that its great to be alive at that moment. Those are spiritual states that are to be sought after and savored.

Solid reason #5: Inspiration.

Depending on the garden, there will often be many features that might inspire you to add something to your garden or perhaps to create an entirely new landscape. A special plant you see at one place or a beautiful flower you discover in another spot. Waterfalls, watercourses, fountains and ponds can inspire almost anybody. Walkways, pathways, terraces, furniture, statues or other art objects are often wonderful to look at and might inspire you to do the same in your gardens. And quite often it is just the atmosphere that you want to reproduce. Inspiration is definitely a possibility in almost any garden venue.

Solid reason #6: Romance.

I would imagine that the first romance between humans took place outdoors in a natural environment as it was with all animals. The pulse of life has always been more evident among the essence of what we recognize as nature. Green leaves rustling in a breeze, water coursing within creeks and over rocks and cascading over waterfalls re- mind us that we are all a part of this planet. Earth smells, bird calls, the buzzing of bees and the energy of the sun all serve to infuse us with the reality of being alive. These and countless other factors not of the inside environments conspire to create the perfect atmosphere for two humans seeking the magic of the closeness of being.

Solid reason #7: Photography.

I could have selected hobbies for this “solid reason” selection, but photography is far and away the most popular activity that attaches itself to garden tours. But I will still mention kite flying, flute playing, ball kicking and lots of other activities, but most of you will want to pack your camera and capture the ever changing images that need to be immortalized in your slideshows, albums or most currently flung into cyperspace to all your family and friends.

Solid reason #8: See whatʼs new.

Itʼs always fun to observe new objects and attend special events. Because of this, botanical gardens wanting to attract new and returned visitors are always creating new attractions. This means they have to get ever more creative and come up with original and enjoyable presentations. Sometimes this takes the form of art exhibits and then at other times music festivals. There are often specialized displays of childrenʼs icons such as Dr. Seuss, Mickey Mouse or Alice in Wonderland characters. Life scale dinosaurs can really add a lot to certain garden settings. Many gardens specialize in displays of roses, flowering spring bulbs, perennial and annual flowers. Exotic tropical plants are on display in the appropriate climates or in conservatories. The list does go on and on, which of course is the wonderful thing about all this. There will always be more to see.

Solid reason #9: Dine among the flowers.

Whatʼs better than eating outdoors? Al fresco dining is a good enough reason to go to any garden or nature location. It might be a picnic by the creek or at a café at the botanical garden. You wonʼt get any arguments from the kids and everyone will want to do this again and again. Enough said.

Solid reasons #10, #11 etc.:

Keep coming up with them – There are more. But perhaps you just need to go to the gardens and find them out for yourselves.

The post A Day In The Garden appeared first on Garden Gateways.

PRESENTS

Designing an Uber-Green

LEED Certified Garden

With “Environmentally Responsible Landscaping” and
“Water Efficient Landscaping”

First, consider that every designer’s endeavor should have a specific purpose in mind. Then that designer must set a firm goal to fulfill the design project’s purpose and move to establish the means and activities to activate the purpose as envisioned.

In this article, we are setting a goal to create a garden that will meet most of the water efficient landscaping requirements that will allow a landscape to help acquire a LEED certification for a project. LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system which provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at increasing performance, reducing waste, and improving quality of life. The LEED designation is made up of the letters from “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” and was developed by the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which is a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction.  It is this organization that will issue a LEED certification for those wishing to acquire one. We highly suggest that those wishing to do so visit their web site at www.usgbc.org in order to acquire the information required to be awarded that certification. We also suggest that you contract with a LEED professional consultant that will be able to assist you in this regard.

But thinking in practical terms, how does someone produce a environmentally sustainable house and gardens that attempt to be less energy independent? And then, how do you carry that thinking further and attempt to create an overall project that will be considerate in the use of resources required to maintain that project site?

This writer will leave an explanation of the complexities of transforming a house into a modern, energy efficient building to others. Our goal here is to describe what it will take to have the best possible landscaped environment with water efficient landscaping, and herein present a short overview of how to achieve a beautiful landscape and still stay within the environmentally positive parameters that a LEED program will help establish.

But first, let us consider the goal for creating these gardens.  For purposes of establishing a vision that the reader can follow to better understand the subject, we are describing the design steps that we have used for a client that acquired a LEED certification.

In this project our client was fond of all garden venues and this makes it difficult to choose one specific garden theme over another. Next this client loved to entertain friends and feels that a wonderful aspect of entertainment is to have many activities occur outside as well as inside the house. This led us to incorporate destination gardens within the landscape.

These destination gardens are specifically themed green enclosures that we called “Bowers”. Bowers are often thought of as nests or habitats for birds and that can be true as well. But in actuality bowers are defined as “leafy shelters” and that is certainly what they are within this envisioned landscape. Some of these destination bowers are places where begonias will rule, while other bowers will display and cultivate orchids while yet another destination might feature bromeliads or ferns. Our client wanted these gardens within a garden to be landscaped delights that she could take on as projects to be developed over time and within a time frame that she has to devote to making them perfect spots to work or meditate within.

Other destinations are a Japanese Zen Garden, designed for contemplation and a Kitchen Garden where our client would be able to grow flowers to cut or edibles such as herbs and vegetables to cultivate.  There are also bamboo gardens and lush tropical perimeters.  Within the driveway and motor court environs, we proposed a dry-stream bed flowing under a beautiful footbridge and surrounded by various tropical and unique collector plants.

Areas will be designated to introduce sculptures and other garden art as time goes by and as our client collects them during her travels.  This garden will never be complete, as most excellent gardens never are, so there is no hurry to rush all the wonderful “final” touches that will ultimately be added over the years.

These desirable goals don’t fit easily into the normal vision of “conservation” gardens, which are often visualized as a minimalist landscape with a limited palette of native or desert plants, but this is where the concept of “Environmentally Responsible Landscaping” comes into play.

Now, back to the rationale about making all of these green things really “Green”. This is a complex idea and hard to define but there is a way we can approach it and we did.  First, we know that we did not want to create a garden that is the driest, most maintenance free garden possible as our client places a high value on aesthetics and this minimalist approach is not appealing in this specific area in Florida. So rather than being purists on low maintenance, we decided to be sensible in this regard. There is a landscape design standard called Xeriscape and we followed many of the principals of that design discipline which is primarily to be thrifty with water and minimalist when considering the use of fertilizer and insecticides.

We targeted the amount of drought tolerant grass to be less than 50% of the total landscaped area, as grass generally requires the most water, food, insecticides and maintenance energy. In actuality we reduced the final amount to less than 40% of the total by using large areas of very drought tolerant ground covers in shady areas or where grass was not essential to the design.  It is certainly possible to further reduce that amount, but most people like a reasonable amount of grassed area and some communities require a minimal amount in order to present the traditional neighborhood aesthetic of manicured lawns.

We also used as many varieties of native plant materials as we could and still keep the targeted design integrity intact. Native plants are good selections for ease of maintenance, but some exotics are even better and we used them when we could.  However, this client loves plants such as hibiscus, bougainvillea, heliconia and many other varieties that are not generally considered eligible for a Xeriscape style of garden. We grouped these relatively needy plants together in compatible garden beds where their needs could be met without impacting the larger garden environment. We must acknowledge that most clients desire garden elements that appeal to their sense of a beautiful garden even when they don’t qualify as minimalist in their cultural needs.  If we don’t incorporate those elements into their garden designs, we won’t be able to encourage clients to take an “Environmentally Responsible Landscaping” stance on the rest of the total landscape concept. The net result benefits the environment even greater because more of the community will sign on to such an environmental strategy.

As excessive water use is one of the highest negatives in a “Green” garden, we decided to tackle that issue head on. Over 80% of our selected vegetation palette is considered drought tolerant and that is good for a start, and we placed plantings with the same irrigation needs within common beds in order to attend to specific moisture needs more easily.  Our client made some hard decisions to put money where her beliefs are and opted to invest in large underground cisterns that would collect rainwater from the gutters and other rain collectors. This rainwater harvesting system water is then used to irrigate the plantings. The primary landscape irrigation water comes from wells and draws from the underground aquifers to refill the cisterns when the collected rainwater is depleted.  As far as sprinkler system design goes, all of our high efficiency irrigation system is of the latest technology for saving water use, including the use of low volume sprinkler heads and drip irrigation where practical. In addition to an above ground moisture sensor that shuts the irrigation system down after adequate rainfall, we even used under-soil moisture sensors in our tropical  “Rain Forest” areas to measure when that soil has retained adequate moisture and thereby automatically turn that particular sprinkler zone off until the area it controls needs it. We also implemented an irrigation management program that further reduces excessive usage of water. This management program avoids the typical situation of setting an irrigation system to automatically water the gardens and then forget about it after that. We encourage the client and grounds maintenance personnel to actively and constantly watch the garden and attend to its needs rather than trusting an automatic system to perform this function alone. This practice saves resources and benefits the plantings as well.

The post Designing an Uber-Green, Leed Certified Garden appeared first on Garden Gateways.

A Journey To Eden

A short story by: Daniel J Ford

I’m not certain why I chose to drive out of the city that bright sunny morning instead of heading directly to work, just as I do day after day.  I just followed an instinct that I didn’t know I had. It wasn’t exactly that I had no control over this impulse.  It just seemed that I was somehow given a suggestion and then decided to go along with it after I had settled in behind the steering wheel. But no matter how I came to this juncture, I was on my way out of the city and focused on looking for someplace that was remote and, more important, free of cityscapes and way too many people. It was certainly a better choice for me than to remain in the general funk I have found myself in lately.

After about two hours had gone by, a little too swiftly it seemed, and the scenery had become devoid of buildings and people, I saw a dirt road slightly ahead on the right that left the highway and immediately started to transcend a heavily treed hill. With no  hesitation, I exited the highway and guided the car up and over that incline and saw that there were many more hillocks ahead of me. Up to this point, I was comfortable enough embarking on this rather mild and yet enjoyable adventure that I did not fully comprehend what I was doing.  But now with the view of the serpentine country road stretching ahead of me for as far as I could see, and surely far beyond what I could not see, I started to feel a type of excitement that I had not been familiar with up to this point in my life.

As I sped onward along this dirt road at a fast but comfortable clip, I watched in the side rear view mirrors as we created large identical arching plumes of dust billowing on both sides of the car.  As I focused ahead on where we’re going, the visual sensations suddenly changed for me. It was almost as if I was watching this journey from the perspective of being in a movie and sensing our forward movement as an uninvolved passenger.  When I glanced upward into the rear view mirror, I could still see the dust plumes but not the dirt road we had been passing over. It was just the cloud of dirt particles disappearing into a lush green forest behind me.

My journey continued for a period that seemed not to be composed of time or space. It was just happening. I settled back into this strange sense of not being totally in control but still not feeling out of control either.

And then the car came ever so slowly to a full stop. For an undeterminable segment of time, I sat in the drivers seat and took in the view out of the windows.  The car had stopped at the top of a high cliff and ahead I saw a long view into a spectacular valley flanked by the most intense emerald green forests that I had ever seen or even imagined. In the middle of that valley was a meandering river that sparkled with iridescent blue diamond hues as it traversed rifts and rockeries on its path to an unseen destination. A fine mist was coming up from the depths below the cliff top. This was enough of a lure to pull me out of the car to see where or what that mist was emanating from.

As my shoes touched the grass, I was amazed at how firm, and yet so soft, the texture was and each step I took resulted in an upward whiff of fragrance that brought an ever so alluring and delicious sensation of the essence of something green that was fresh and alive. I had an immediate desire to take my shoes off to better experience this sensation and perhaps even throw off my clothing and immerse my entire being into this strange but wonderful new experience.

I resisted that temptation and walked to the top of the cliff and looked downward. I saw that the mist was coming from a cascade formed by a large volume of water gushing out of an opening in the escarpment wall and falling many hundreds of feet below me, forming that awesome blue river.  And to my right, partially  obscured by a large flowering red rhododendron, was a stairway cut out of the escarpment boulders. It was gradually descending at many sharp angles along the face of the cliff.

I couldn’t resist the impulse to follow this stairway down the cliff walls, and as I descended, I passed under the massive waterfall that was so thick and heavy that I didn’t get wet when I walked under it. All along the passage downward, I saw spectacular ferns, moss and flowering air plants covering the rocky walls. There were also dry pockets that contained many bird nests with their inhabitants, flying in and out of them without any concern of my passing by. The birds were different from any I have ever seen before. They were similar in form and actions to wrens, warblers and sparrows, but their colors were varied and very intense. Also all of the birds had brilliant blue eyes. Their feathers were iridescent red, blue, green and some even orange, very much like we see on hummingbirds. There were deeper crevices that formed small caves and provided windows into the interior of the escarpment. I could see strands of glowing beads and various bioluminescent creatures that looked like thousands of colored fireflies.

When I arrived into the forest at the base of the wall, I was amazed to see vegetation that was not at all what I would expect to see in our forests.  I moved through great drifts of tropical looking foliage that was mixed within the more familiar varieties that I could identify as native to our woods. There were huge multi-colored blooms and bloom clusters everywhere I looked.  Hundreds of butterflies and bees were very actively sharing those blossoms and little wonder for that. The fragrance in the air was emanating more as sensory waves instead of providing a hint of any particular odor.

Not knowing where I was heading, I wandered through the forest until I reached a clearing alongside the river. This waterway was even more beautiful up close than it was from the top of the cliff. I couldn’t resist the urge to take my shoes off and wade within the shallow waters of the shoreline.

Just as there were fantastic beautiful creatures and features on the land and in the air, I could see spectacular fish gliding over and around the smooth shiny green and aquamarine pebbles and stones. When they saw my feet, these fish swam over to them and nibbled on my toes ever so nicely. What an unbelievable sensation it was, as those nibbles felt more like caresses than coming from something intent on eating. Because I was next to a large smooth boulder on the shoreline, I sat down and let the river denizens have their way with my feet. To say that I was content is practicing understatement to a ridiculous extreme.

So there I was, perched on this somehow comfortable boulder with my feet dangling in the river. My eyes, with a clarity I didn’t know I even had, were taking in the aerial dances of vibrant birds, bees, dragon flies and even more unrecognizable creatures as they took to the air, while some of my new fishy friends joined with other newcomers in the fondling of my toes.  The clear blue sky was busy conjuring up exceptionally cute cartoon characters out of fluffy pure white clouds, with the help of bright sunlight, adding to their contours and definitions. I could focus on a multitude of chirps from the birds, the buzzing of the insects, a slight murmur of the breeze and the beautiful coordinated sounds of water lapping upon the rivers shoreline and splashing over rocks as the water rushed onward to it’s destination.

I saw many different animals coming out of the forest and arriving at the river to have a drink. Some were tiny, such as the rabbits and squirrels, and others were very large including a massive black bear and a panther. Both crouched down, side by side to lap up the water. They simply glanced over toward me. I could almost imagine that they smiled, if such a reaction was even possible for these animals.

It occurred to me that the things I was seeing and experiencing were not exactly normal. The colors of the flowers, the birds and everything else were far too intense.  The animals were somewhat familiar but somehow enhanced and they were not acting like I would have expected. And my arrival into this environment was certainly suspect. What exactly was happening here?  Up to this moment I had been too entranced to even consider that I must question my surroundings.

While I was absorbed with these thoughts, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. Somehow, this did not startle me and I slowly turned to see who or what had done this and I saw the most unusual sight I have ever seen.  The shape was humanoid in form and it seemed that I could see through it, or could I? At first I saw a feminine figure with all of the details and proportion of the perfect woman. Then it immediately changed to a masculine form and here again it demonstrated the characteristics of the ideal male physique. Ideal that is, if you accepted that you could probably pass your hand directly through this form, if you attempted it.

It then settled into a beautiful female form and started transforming into a more solid consistency.  Her brilliant hair seemed to be composed of silken strands of silvery blue. She was also totally nude, but when I reacted with a shocked look, a beautiful aqua hued silken dress immediately appeared to drape itself over her body. Her emerald eyes locked on mine and then she completed my capture with a radiant smile.

I stammered, “Who are you?”  “What are you?”

“My name is Gaia and I am a part of all that you see here.”

“Your name is familiar to me. Doesn’t Gaia mean Mother of the Earth?”

Still smiling, she replied. “It does mean that and many other things as well. I represent nature and all the elements that manifest upon and within this planet.”

“Well then Gaia, why am I seeing you here and experiencing this awesome place?”

“Because you have the need to do so. Apparently you have found yourself stuck in a situation or condition that you are not pleased with and have a great need to alter your present existence.”

I didn’t have to think very long about her statement. I had been in a semi-depressive state of mind for quite awhile now and it was beginning to wear me down. I was not functioning well in my work as a designer and that affected everything else in my life. I was not interacting with my family, my friends or my co-workers like I used to or most certainly the way I wanted to. I was taking little pleasure in eating, drinking, watching TV, reading books or following sports as I normally did. And to make matters worse, I didn’t even know why this state of affairs happened or even considered what to do about it. But, apparently Gaia did and she continued.

“You are a very creative individual. That is a blessing, but that blessing comes with a responsibility. You must create or suffer the consequences. The act of creativity is aligned with the act of growth and expansion. If creation is suppressed, a condition of atrophy is established in both the focus of the creator and the creation alike. Do you understand this?”

I absorbed this idea into my brain for a few seconds before replying. “It’s a new concept to me, but it makes sense. You are actually offering me the reason that I have been feeling really down lately. It’s because I haven’t been putting forth my best creative efforts in my work. Right?”

Gaia responded. “That’s it, and it’s not just your work.  A creative effort is also essential when dealing with your family, friends and associates. And when you deny that creative extension, you are letting yourself, your loved ones, your clients and even the entire world down. Atrophy sets in and then your personal life and various associations become poisoned by it’s degenerative influence.”

“Well then Gaia, what do I do to remedy this situation?”

Gaia smiled and gently placed her hands on my shoulders. “You do what you are doing now while sitting here on this boulder at the rivers edge. All that you now see and have seen since you arrived in this dimension has been created by your imagination. All of these flowers and plants. All of the birds, the butterflies and other fantastic animals. The wondrous scents, the bracing breezes and the awesome scenery, and that includes me as well. Your consciousness conjured all of this up to become a reality that was meaningful to you.”

I sat in silence for a few moments and gazed into her sparkling emerald eyes, but finally spoke. “Am I dreaming all of this Gaia? Is any part of what I am experiencing right now reality?”

She took her hands off of my shoulders and stepped away from me a little as she replied. “There are many realities and in actuality, no limit to how many there can be. You can always visit this reality you are currently manifesting in, or create others of your choosing.  The reality you are currently most familiar with and involved in is an obstructed form of reality. Because of the inherent laws in that reality, you are somewhat limited in the expression of your imagination, but by no means unable to create wondrous things. In this dimension we are currently in, you merely have to simply think it in order to manifest it, whereas in your obstructed reality you have to work a little harder to do almost the same thing. Even in an obstructed reality, you only have to imagine it, believe in it and then work your butt off in order to make it relevant within that reality.” Then Gaia began to become less solid in appearance and her form became a shimmering image of silver light and began to fade, but she still had one more thing to say. “Come back to this place whenever you wish to or need to, but perhaps you can learn more and benefit the most by using your talents to create something useful in a venue that is more difficult to manage. Your present obstructed reality provides very well for that outcome.” And with that she vanished.

I was saddened to see Gaia leave, but her thoughts stayed with me and after several minutes of replaying them over in my mind, I looked down at my feet and saw that they were beginning to take on that same silvery sheen as they began to disappear. This fadeout moved upward and soon my legs and then my torso had simply vanished and then I closed my eyes.

When I opened them, I was no longer in that magical and beautiful place by the river, but behind the wheel of my car and obviously getting ready to pull out of my garage to drive to my office. I was back in my obstructed reality, but I knew that I was no longer the same semi-depressed person I had been when I first settled into my car some time, or perhaps no time, ago.A

I would never forget my experience in that wondrous place. Nor would I forget Gaia and the lessons she taught me. I was and am a landscape design professional who now understands that I was created to be a creator as well and also understands how critical it is that I use the unlimited future experiences to evolve into the best creator I can be. Perhaps there will be those days when I will start to descend into that dispirited state again, but I know that I can always use my imagination to leave here and go visit Gaia again.

The post A Journey To Eden appeared first on Garden Gateways.