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I have attempted to articulate this story so many times. So as I sit and type/write this for probably the dozenth iteration. It's challenging for me to share my inner workings. Sharing my thoughts and story is allowing vulnerability, but the risk is worth the reward. My native gardening/flower story from the very beginning...
I was headed into a new life season. Our kids were all getting older and more independent. One of my best friends had moved out of state permanently. Both of which left holes to fill in my life. The thing about life it's ever-changing, and we have to keep adapting. This was the summer of 2019, and on a whim, influenced by some FB friends, we headed to a local greenhouse that offered caterpillars for adoption. The kids and I brought home two Black Swallowtail caterpillars. This was the day that marked a significant shift and the beginning of a transformation in how we managed our suburban lot.
That first season, I feverishly rehauled our front landscape bed. I removed Japanese Spirea shrubs and added Golden Alexander. You see Golden Alexander host (feed) Black Swallowtail caterpillars! We planted many milkweeds; I registered and certified our front garden as a Monarch Waystation. Plants that I had never heard of previously were being put into the ground, and each served a purpose. Each one fed and/or supported a living being, be it a butterfly, caterpillar, bird, moth, or combinations of them.
Native gardening gave me a purpose, I was doing something really positive for our environment, and it was FUN! My traditional way of gardening was to plant it and admire the beauty, kind of like decorating a room in your home. Instead, it went like this: plant it and wait for the LIFE to arrive. Each day I would observe new species of bees, butterflies, and BIRDS! Monarchs were a weekly sight. I didn't know the term "biodiversity" at this time. All I knew was connecting with my environment in a way that I never had before, and it was fulfilling in a way that's hard to explain. I alone was making a difference in my local environment by making the smallest of changes. I witnessed it. It was turning into my "Blue Flame." (If you haven't read the book "Your Blue Flame" by Jennifer Fulwiler, do yourself a favor and check it out). I have always been the type of person to share what I am excited about, and that's what I did and continue to do.
I was on a path I was meant to travel, doors opened, and I was positively impacting people. There are too many encounters to list in this piece. It was many! Each of those interactions told me, "Keep going, keep putting yourself out there." I was contacted by one of the founders of an organization that gives FREE native gardens away to people who want them. That organization is 'Adapt: Community Supported Ecology.' I am now a volunteer leader for my local township. I will have the honor of installing native Michigan gardens for my neighbors and people in my community. How cool is that?!
I am more than halfway through my story, and I haven't talked at all about starting my cut flower venture. Some may think it's hypocritical to plant non-natives, while I am advocating for native species. I feel like cut flowers (non-invasive) are my bridge to connect with my community. Many people purchase cut flowers as a luxury item. If just a tiny percentage of my local community purchases from me instead of the big box store, they are already doing something positive for the environment. They are supporting a hyperlocal, sustainable business that is chemical-free and environmentally friendly. Those flowers didn't travel the globe, in many cases, to end up in their home, therefore cutting fossil fuel usage as well. I want to inspire my community and open minds to new ideas. I have been brainstorming so many ways I could marry the cut flowers and native gardening, like free native seeds or baby native plants with a bouquet purchase. The possibilities are endless, and I welcome any feedback. I will continue sharing my journey with the hope of making positive connections and impacts to many.
Cheers friends!
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