Hi all,
I had some extra time this morning before I had to be on the east side of Portland so I packed up my wellies and some gardening gear and drove out to Roslyn Lake to tend to "Whitney's Garden", as I have begun to think of it.
It's been raining for a few days now (lots of puddles and standing water) and it was raining hard on my drive. It took me a couple wrong turns and a map-check on my droid, but I finally found it. Before I did though, I drove through Dodge Park and there was a large group of people (40-50, I'd say) who appeared to be training on how to kayak through the Sandy River rapids. I was surprised at how busy the park was with many people out fishing as well. The river was pretty high, with spring runoff.
The garden itself looks good. Everything in good shape and being respected. I did pick up a little trash, mainly cans, and pulled a few dandelions that were coming up through the bark dust.
Sasquatch, the large rose you planted is doing well and has several inches of new growth coming from the canes. It seems happy. I pruned the miniature rose a bit, just taking off some of the ends that were brown and dead. I think it too will do just fine. As you can see in the photos, there is a drainage pipe that comes out near the pole, from the other side of the road. I think that will supply a good source of moisture come summer.
One of the things Whitney and I have in common is our love of purple flowers. I grow lavender roses, pansies, violets and forget-me-nots in my garden and I love how easily they spread and give bright bluish spots of color in an awakening early spring garden. So today I brought two big pots of forget-me nots and two different types of violets, just divisions I took out of my garden a while back. I put some of the forget-me-nots next to the pole and some to the one end of the garden by the blue ceramic pot. I put some of the violets near each of those places too, plus some at the other end by the little rose.
Finally, I added a tea light and sang a chant as I lit it and walked around the garden three times. The candle had previously been lit off the sacred Flame of Peace from the ruins of St Brigid's Cathedral in Kildare, Ireland. Whatever candle is lit off of it, will now carry that same Flame of Peace. The chant I learned in Ireland, about the Goddess Brigid, who among other things heralds the approach of Spring:
Holy Water, Sacred Flame
Brigid We Invoke Your Name
Bless My Hands, My Head, My Heart
Source of Healing, Song and Art
I then spoke a few words out loud to Whitney's spirit, and claimed the space as sacred to her memory. My blessing ritual complete, the flame was doused by the cleansing rain.
It's a beautiful place and I am so glad we are helping to reclaim it as a place that remembers Whitney's beauty and grace of spirit. Hopefully it will give peace to all who visit.
I'll be adding more photos as I upload them from my phone.
