Lessons In The Garden

When the weather turns warm all I want to do is feel the sun on my skin To sit in the garden and take in its day to day evolution

When the weather turns warm

all I want to do is feel the sun on my skin

To sit in the garden and take in its day to day evolution

To listen to the array of birdsong that fills the air

To soak in the colors that surround and the varying ways each plant dances in the breeze

The dark brown of my hair that comes with winter is lightening once again

Soon enough it will be indistinguishable from Junipers

While Gusser’s becomes impossibly light-

I have been in awe of the growth that has come this season from plants placed a year ago

It mirrors the growth I’ve seen in my children

Strong roots

They have become established and are flourishing in ways that leave me filled with wonder

While this years perennials are very much still finding their way.

My own rootedness feels more like the tides, coming and going

What would it be like to feel so sure footed, only wavering with the winds but feet still planted solidly

Solid in purpose

It makes my heart feel heavy to wonder

The garden reminds me that I am human,

not meant to take on the world

More fulfilled by hard work

Even amidst the failures it can bring

It’s reignited a love for learning

a love for reading and slowness

and each day it brings me closer to who I am at heart.

Two more days until Summer Break begins for my youngest and his heart is ready for it’s arrival. We’ve been cleaning and setting up all toys involving water in anticipation and building out a dry rock bed to drain them when they are done for the day. The water will soak in slow and steady and nourish the plants through the summer heat, and be a place for a bird or butterfly to snag a drink before it soaks in all the way.

Meanwhile I’ve also been experimenting with a new to me camera and a few budget lenses, photographing work in the garden and toying around with different zines.

Last month I took part in a zoom call hosted by

Emma Carpendale

for a critique among other artists and to say I’m glad I participated would be an understatement. I’m so grateful that Emma created time and space for it and to the other artists who joined. It felt incredibly good to connect and not only receive feedback but lend a hand and ideas to other creators and hear them talk about their work. You can watch the recorded session here.

I’ve also been taking in all things zine that

Carolyn Yoo

has been sharing as of late. I’m still finding my way a bit but I’ve absolutely loved everything she’s shared on the topic and I’ve been passing a lot of it along to my kids who are intrigued as well.

That’s kind of where I’ve been at lately… Creating- but on a slower timeline which will continue into the summer and probably collaborating with my little ones along the way too. I’ll continue to show up here as time allows and hopefully have more to offer come fall.

Thanks for sticking around and supporting Juner and Bec, the idea that anyone reads this or connects to my work or writing still blows me away and I feel really lucky to have you here.

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There will be more to come, just a lot slower than most Substack’s you’re subscribed to, for better or worse hahaha,

xoxo,

Bec