Friday, July 11, 2008

the Moment long awaited arrives and Princess Haiku receives her Chrysanthemum Seedlings



I was expecting five seedlings from King's Mums and was gifted with a sixth chrysanthemum which makes that one more special. They arrived in a small UPS box which I can't imagine is a very pleasant experience for a tiny plant. However, they arrived intact and their sojourn in the confines of a dark box was brief. That is more than most of us can say. I can remember whole seasons in my life when I confined my spirit to darkness and limitation. Well, no more. The journey of these rare flowers will lead all who follow their path into light.



After shaking the seedlings gently from the dark soil in the plastic bag, I untangled their roots. My flute teacher is guiding me on the intricacies of the chrysanthemum path and advised me to plant them in little peat pots. That way I won't have to disturb the delicate roots when I transplant them into the large green planter boxes awaiting them. Speaking of which there weren't enough drainage holes in the planter boxes and mayhem resulted when I had to empty all the soil out to drill more holes. This is a lesson. Don't rush the process.



I tried to keep track of what variety each little plant was and then decided not to bother. After all, the plants will announce their colors and beauty as they bloom.


The seedlings will be moved from the little peat pots, sitting in red pots eventually into the planter boxes. They will tell me when they are ready.



Chrysanthemums should not be overwatered per instructions in the booklet, King's Mums sent me as this is a leading cause of chrysanthemum demise. -Not a pleasant thing to think about but life and death are so intertwined that it is really impossible to discuss one and not the other.




The seedlings will stay in the peat pots for one week while buds form. My understanding is that three buds are allowed to grow on top of the plant and others are removed. This is so that the chrysanthemum plant grows in the formation of the trinity; mother goddess, daughter and holy spirit. Well- this is my interpretation.

My flute teacher said to polish the buds with the mind. That when you are caring for your chrysanthemums you think of nothing else other than the flower. One is to bring full awareness into the care and nurture of the plants. Outside thoughts and the world must not intrude on the process.

Poetic meditation upon plants destined for perfection prepares the spirit for growth. Perhaps tonight, I will dream about my tiny seedlings, with all of their potential for striking transformation into creatures of dazzling beauty. But I must not anticipate and must enjoy fully their current small green, delicate nature. One must enter fully the moment the plant is in at all times.

Eventually, if they all survive I will have a 1) Golden Rain Spider 2) two Fleur De Lis Spider, 3 Orchid Spider 4 (Icicles Spider and 5) the gift spider of a Golden Splendor.

The summer stretches before me as a miraculous pathway into pristine beauty and perfection. I wish my skin was the magenta of a Fleur De Lis and my mind; icicles white. Well, the journey of these rare flowers will unfold all in good time. All we must do is follow.

17 comments:

Beatrice V said...

I look forward to re-visiting the garden in bloom to sit under the Rain between Fleur de Lys and Orchid enjoying the Golden Splendour of your chrysantemums. Good wishes for splendid bllooms.

Dorlana said...

Hi Princess,
I stopped in to say hello. I'm so glad I did today because now I get to see your pretty flowers from the beginning and watch as they grow :) Have a lovely summer,
Dorlana

R.L. Bourges said...

here's rooting for all of them.

Bobby D. said...

This post struck me as so sweet and nurturing. I've been worried about the fires in Calif. for the past weeks I've felt a real well almost depression that I link to the fires. I pray for many rainy days to hit Calif. many rainy days.

Anonymous said...

Dear Princess,

good luck with your dream garden-coming real

lotusgreen said...

so exciting!

dennis said...

Dennis would never harm a seedling. Dennis
takes care of African violets, mostly just staring at them.

- Susan - said...

Dear Princess,

thanks for asking... (I could not reply directly, so I post it as a comment).

I have moved away from China, back home, it is now 2 weeks, excactly.
It feels strange.
I do not miss China (just the comfort of expat life maybe a bit, but not that much).
I am glad to not have to stay in China during the Olympics Games. August is probably the worst month in Beijing, climate wise.

Here in the South of Germany, from where I am writing tonight, the air is great, the clouds formations are amazing, the fruits taste like heaven... another exciting life just has started. And I hope I will not loose this viewpoint any soon.

AscenderRisesAbove said...

I am impressed; I am notorious for overwatering. Next year, however, I have decided to plant vegetables; not flowers and hope to end the overwatering trend
BTW I mentioned you in a arte y pico honoring creativity, design, interesting material, and also contrubutes to the blogger community, no matter of language.
http://ascenderrisesabove.com/wordpress/?p=3896

Cergie said...

I can underrstand how much you were happy ; it is almost as having a new baby arriving in your life.
I have a plant called Clivia, I saw a lot of tehm outside in the shadow in San Francisco ; it is a plant which must not be freezed, so in france, I may put in outside only in summer time.
In San Francisco so, I saw lots of them, especially at Whashington square and in the Golden Gate Park. I took some pictures. They are wonderful.

My father gave me my first one, that I call "Grand'Pa", and I took seeds ; not seeds, fruits ; they needed almost six months to grow (only two plants, in two different pots), and 18 years after I got my first orange flower on one plant and this year, 20 years after the second one is blossoming !!!!

I hope you will be blessed with your chrysanthemums and enjoy them a lot...

Livia Gnos said...

I was waiting for your seedlings to arrive... and now they are here...
Have a nice journey little flowers... Live is a miracle...

Anonymous said...

a lovely meditation on the process of living and dying itself: the darkness of limitations; the joy of receiving light; the polishing of one's mind with focus and care; not rushing the process, but flowing with it as it unfolds.

I, too, look forward to the unfolding of your spider lily forest.

may we all be so blessed.

fondly,
lady blue

Diane Dehler said...

I am delighted with your thoughtful and delightful comments. How my garden does grow with the gentle nurturing of friends.

Anonymous said...

A belated Congratulations! on your new arrival!;-) Looks to me like they are in delicate, loving hands. I feel your excitement in my mind, like starting a new painting that you know, if all goes well, is going to be a new high point!

I will be checking in frequently for progress reports. (And, etc., of course)

Anonymous said...

Those flowers are lucky. They will have your art to nurture them as well. :) Good luck.

Anonymous said...

I am always amazed that things arrive intact when they are shipped like that!

Beautiful post and best of luck to you and your blooms.

Silvia Hoefnagels . Salix Tree said...

Oh how lovely! I hope you keep us posted on thier growth. It'll be fun to watch them get taller and finally bloom.