Author Archives: Debbie

Lovely Bloodroot

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I adore Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), one of the first woodland flowers to emerge in the spring. It is simply thrilling to see it ~ and it screams “SPRING IS FINALLY HERE!” I love how its single leaf looks like a hand caressing the stem and slowly opens up. The beautiful white flower tends to appear before the leaf unfurls.

The leaf gently protecting the plant.

The leaf gently protecting the plant.

BR opening leaf with flower

When temperatures drop, the blossom closes to protect itself and help ensure pollination.

BR closed flower and leafAnts and Bloodroot have a beautiful relationship. Ants help spread the seeds while Bloodroot nourishes the ants in the process. This process is called myrmecochory. The seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome, which is an oily, fleshy coating that attracts ants. The ants take the seeds to their nest, eat the elaiosomes, and then put the seeds in their “compost pile.” It is the perfect place for the seeds to germinate and it’s a win-win situation. Life is good.BR closed leaf and open flower

 

Waterfall Therapy

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When life becomes stressful, we all have coping mechanisms. Some are better than others. Some are healthy and beneficial; others not so much. Sure, I can list numerous wonderful coping mechanisms, and describe their attributes and drawbacks, but no matter how you cope during challenging times ~ you already know if it is helpful or detrimental. You don’t need me to validate what you already know. Therefore, I am not going there, I’m just going to share with you one of my favorites:

WATERFALLS

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Sure, flowing water is fabulous but nothing beats a full fledge WATERFALL gushing over a ledge, filling the air with its deafening roars as it plunges towards the earth.

Lately, I have had my share of stress. You know the kind of stress that has every cell in your body vibrating to where it seems like you will never have a clear and focused thought again. At these times, there is no filter, there are just too many “things” pulling us in every direction. During these moments, I surrender to Mother Nature because I know she will soothe and center me, especially waterfalls. All I have to do is sit near a waterfall for 5 minutes and it magically helps me release all the stress caught up in my mind and body. There are moments when I can actually feel the liberation of the stress flowing out of my cells.

IMG_1707Luckily for me, I live close to dozens of waterfalls. In fact, one of my favorite hikes is less than a mile from Mathew’s school. So, I can drop him off and hike for 5 minutes, or a half hour, or more, it really depends on my schedule for the day. And after my waterfall fix, I can face the day with focus and attention.

What do you do for stress? Please share and I continue to share.