Being Mindful

It’s a foggy mid-August morn in the potager.

A new resolve to be more mindful of my moments took me out earlier this morning than usual. The lawn was soaked with dew, the air was heavy with foggy moisture, and there was an unusual stillness….no lawn mowers, no dogs barking, no traffic, no birds singing. It was lovely! I moved quite slowly, pausing often to survey my surroundings, which although totally familiar, had new things for me to discover.

The fog lent a softness to outlines and colors.

I took deep breaths, in, and out…slowly… and tried to focus my mind on the beauty of the moment…the sights, the smells, the lack of sounds, forming the memories that will sustain me through the winter months. Annoyingly, it was difficult to focus on the moment, and avoid thinking about the rust on the daylilies, which all this lovely, foggy moisture is aiding and abetting. Or to pretend not to notice the holes in the big Blue River II white hibiscus blooms, to immediately put down the camera and search for the culprits (Japanese beetles.) More deep breaths in and out slowly, focus…focus. Be mindful.

The first bloom on one of the new roses in the potager’s interior border.

One of the Heritage Roses’ first buds is opening this morning. I’ll need to look at my records to see which one it is, but be assured it is not as pink as it looks in this photo. Had I waited to go out until the dew has dried, as I often do, I might have missed it!

The east half of the potager in mid-August.

I actually took a few moments to sit on the south bench and to contemplate the bounty that still remains in the potager, and to reflect on the enjoyment it has brought this season. The melon vines continue to climb their trellises and are crossing over the top for the first time ever. The “Wando” peas have grown 10″ already. The newly planted lettuces are showing their vivid colors even in their infancy. Broccoli plants are suddenly showing new growth, and the purple Romano beans are beginning to bloom. It’s an unusual August, and the plants are loving it!

The sunflowers…with fairy clotheslines!

The sunflowers have been glorious. I’m so glad I planted them in the potager’s west interior border. This week, 10″ babies of “Earthwalker” went in to replace the earlier planting, whose seed heads are now being enjoyed by the goldfinches. And I enjoy watching their antics and hearing their chatter, which adds another dimension to the sensual pleasures of the potager. I found it difficult to keep my resolve to be more mindful of my moments, to be grateful for the blessings that abound. Sixty years of being focused on the job list is a hard habit to break, but I’m trying. This morning was a good beginning, and I’m sure I’ll get better with practice!

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