Is it in poor taste to use a Spiritual Figure in a Decorative Way?

 

"There is only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going 

all the way and not starting."   Buddha

It is hard to imagine the blissful ignorance of a sheltered life. With modern technology, it's almost impossible to escape the harsh realities of this world, but in ancient times, there once was a privileged young Indian prince who made it all the way to manhood before he discovered that life was not easy; nor was it fair. 

Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born into a wealthy family in Nepal sometime in the 6th century. His early life, spent in a grand palace at the foot of the Himalayan mountains, was one of comfort and privilege. 

The restrictions of this easy, but reclusive life only served to fire young Prince Siddhartha's curiosity, so he began to make tentative forays into the world outside the palace walls. The poverty, death and disease Siddhartha encountered shocked and disturbed him. Overcome with guilt and remorse, he abandoned his comfortable life and began a quest to lead a more spiritual life. 

Buddha in a private garden in Toronto

Years of studying religious practice and meditation followed. When answers to his spiritual questions did not materialize, Siddhartha redoubled his efforts, fasting nearly to starvation and refusing even water. 

Gradually, Siddhartha came to realize that deprivation was not bringing him any closer to spiritual clarity. So one day, Siddhartha sat down to meditate under a Bodhi tree. As he sat quietly meditating, an evil spirit visited Siddhartha threatening to lay claim the enlightenment he had struggled to achieve. Siddhartha touched his hand to the Earth and asked it to bear witness that enlightenment was indeed his own. In that moment, he achieved nirvana and became a Buddha or 'one who is awake'.

During the remaining years of his life, Buddha travelled widely sharing his wisdom. He taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which were to become the foundation of Buddhism. 

A Meditation Buddha in a private garden in Mississauga, ON

As a symbol of peace and quiet mediation, a Buddha has become a popular garden ornament in recent years. For many, gardening offers a welcome refuge from daily stresses. It's a place to dig in the dirt and reconnect with nature in a very tactile way. It isn't surprising that a garden seems like a very appropriate setting for a statue that feels so calm and serene.

'Buddha' means 'Awakened One' or the 'Enlightened One'. Buddha statuary come in a variety of poses each illustrating spiritual qualities possessed by the holy man.

 A Meditation Buddha sits with its legs crossed in a single or double Lotus pose. As a symbol of peace and tranquility, the eyes of these Buddhas are usually closed or half closed.  

Buddha in a garden in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Each Buddha has specific hand gestures or mudras. When the thumbs and the finger tips of a Buddha touch forming an oval, it symbolizes the turning of attention inward. The elongated ears speak to a Buddha's gift for hearing even the smallest of sounds.

Buddha in a private garden in Mississauga, ON

The sleep of a Dreaming Buddha is filled with hopes for peace and a wish to live an enlightened life. 

A Reclining Buddha expresses relaxation and a detachment from worldly desires. This Buddha is sometimes called the Nirvana Buddha because it is a depiction of Buddha entering a state of nirvana.

A Medicine Buddha holds a medicine bowl and offers a branch of a healing plant as a blessing. In traditional Buddhism it is believed that Buddha shared a knowledge of medicine with his followers.

A Garden Buddha sits on a bed of lotus blossoms, which are a symbol of purity.

Private garden in Dartmouth, N.S.

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, but live in the present moment."

Buddha 

An open palm expresses compassion and acceptance. It also offers protection from fear.

But here's the thing. There is a somewhat decorative nature to the use of Buddha statuary in gardens and that has got me wondering: Is it in poor taste to take a figure, that for many people carries a religious significance, and use it in a largely decorative way?

Here's an example of where things can go amiss. I have read that placing a Buddha on the ground could be offensive to a Buddhist. A person of this faith would believe 'Enlightened One' should always be elevated even if it is only symbolically.

I find it hard to imagine that a person who places a Buddha in their garden would intend any disrespect. Surely this choice of statuary expresses a certain affinity with some core Buddhist tenants. 

So here's my questions: Is there a place for religious sensitivity even in the garden. Or is life too short to worry about the possibility of causing offence?

I'd love to know what you think about putting a Buddha in a garden.

P.S. I will post the winner of the last book draw up next.

Marnie's Garden, Part 2: Discovering a Passion for Gardening

In this second post on Marnie's garden, we'll take a closer look at some of the perennials she's used. I think it is important, however, to first look at where you would even start if you wanted to create a cottage garden like this. 

So I asked Marnie where she suggested someone new to gardening should begin. Here's her sage advice:

• "I would suggest that the novice gardener looks at gardening books and magazines to get an idea of what kind of garden appeals to them." 

• "Make a plan and keep referring to it moving forward. "

• "It's hard on a limited budget, but it's a good idea to invest in your trees and shrubs first. Research your choices beforehand and take care with their planting. Don't cut corners, as trees and shrubs will be the garden's bones."

• "When buying perennials, try not to buy one of each of the perennials you like, but rather, get enough plants to make a statement. You may have to pare down your wish list to accomplish this, but one of each plant looks spotty."

These are all great suggestions! Marnie is so right about getting the bones of your garden in place early on. So often I have heard gardeners say that they regret not investing in trees and shrubs earlier. It takes years for a tree to mature and reach a decent height. 

And it is so true that one plant fails to have an impact! One perennial will get lost, especially if you have a larger garden like Marnie's.

Knowledge and skills can always be learned, but what a gardener really needs is a passion and desire to help things grow. I asked Marnie what makes her passionate about gardening.

"Jennifer, how does one describe passion?" Marnie replies. "It was an overwhelming need to be outside, working in the soil. Vegetables at first, but perennials soon took over. I really enjoy growing my own plants from seed, and the whole nurturing process until the plants are safely established in the ground."

If you're new to gardening, and on a budget, be resourceful! One of the more rustic features in Marnie's garden is a homemade shed.

"I built a garden shed from old salvaged wood from a century-old barn that had been torn down nearby," explains Marnie. "It has lots of garden collectables and old flowerpots and things I can't bear to get rid of. The shed provides a little privacy, so I built a patio seating area shaded by a big River Birch."

I showed this image last summer when I did a post on country gardens and a few readers asked about this flower. It's a weed. The flowers of Daisy Fleabane, Erigeron annuus, are a soft pink when they open and then they fade to white. 

"The tall pink Filipendula rubra, Queen of the Prairie is aggressive here in my damp soil", Marnie tells me, "and tends to take over its neighbours. It's pretty though, so I put up with having to yank out wheelbarrow loads of it every now and then. I would recommend it only for a large garden."

Queen of the Prairie, Filipendula rubra Height: 1.2-1.8m (4-6 feet) Spread: 1.8-2.4m (6-8feet) USDA zones: 3-9.

Meadowsweet, Filipendula vulgaris 'Plena' forms a low mound of fern-like leaves and has tall stems that bear creamy-white flowers in summer. Average, sandy and clay soils all suit this plant. Most forms of Meadowsweet like moist soil, but this particular variety will tolerate average moisture levels. Full sun to part shade. Height: 40-50 cm (16-20 inches), Spread: 30-45cm (12-18 inches). USDA zones:2-9.

Daylily 'Custard Candy' and Asiatic Lily is 'Cappuccino'.

Daylily 'Custard Candy' has custard colored flowers with a maroon eye. Full sun. Height:60-90 cm (24-36 inches), Spread:45-60 cm (18-24 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Asiatic lily 'Cappuccino' has cream petals splattered with deep maroon. It blooms early to mid-summer. 

Full sun. Height: 45-60 cm (18-24 inches), Spread:30-38 cm (12-15 inches) USDA zones:5-9. 

A few tips for Growing Asiatic lilies: 

Asiatic lilies bloom on tall stalks that resembles the top of a pineapple. These lilies need well-drained soil (so the bulbs do not rot in winter) that has been augmented with some organic matter. They require at least 6 hours of sunlight to grow and bloom well. 

Plant Asiatic lily bulbs at least 12 inches apart and 4-6 inches deep. You will need at least 3 or 5 bulbs together for a good show of blooms. The bulbs can be planted in spring or in early fall. 

In the spring, feed your Asiatic lilies with a slow release fertilizer. Deadhead the blooms as soon as the petals begin to drop, so energy is not wasted in seed production. When the leaves yellow and die in late fall, cut the leafy stalk to the ground.

Echinacea 'Hot Papaya' has a centre pompom and long hanging reddish-orange petals. As the flower ages, the pompom develops into a more golden papaya color. Echinacea 'Hot Papaya' begins blooming mid-summer and will continue to bloom into the late summer if spent flowers are removed. Like most Echinacea, this plant is adaptable to a range of soil and moisture conditions. Attractive to butterflies. Full sun. Height:75-90 cm (29-35 inches) Spread:40-60 (18-23 inches) USDA zones:4-9.

Culver's Root, Veronicastrum virginicum is a very tall, bushy perennial bearing fine plumes of mauve-blue flowers from summer into fall. Attractive to butterflies. Full sun. Height: 120-180 cm (40-70 inches), Spread:75-90 cm (29-35 cm). USDA zones: 3-9.

Verbascum V. nigrum 

"The smaller Verbascum is V. nigrum and the larger one is V. olympicum. I grew both from seed and like them (as do the bees), however, they are rampant self-seeders and not for everyone", says Marnie.

V. olympicum

Another piece of advice for the beginning gardener: make your garden personal. It adds character and speaks to you, the gardener. 

No doubt you'll have noted that Marnie's property has many unique and whimsical features.

"The wheel is an old bell pull from a church," says Marnie. "I bought it at a garage sale my neighbour had this past summer. He very kindly came and put on the post to hold it up. I've planted clematis at the base and there's a hanger for a pot on the side closest to the pond."

Marnie Wright

If you want to attract Hummingbirds and butterflies Bee Balm, Monarda is a great choice. 

I want to give the final words of this post to Marnie. I asked her what encouragement she'd give the novice gardener who looks at a garden like this with awe and perhaps a little bit of apprehension.

"Never worry about what someone else's garden looks like compared to yours. Be inspired by them!", says Marnie. "Enjoy the journey, learn from your mistakes, share plants with others and you will find others will be generous with you. Work hard. Get dirty. Never mind what your fingernails look like! Fall into bed exhausted and dream about tomorrow. Before you know it, thirty-five years will have passed. You'll still love your garden and you won't be able to wait to get out there."

Missed Part 1? Go back and read it here.

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Sweet Spring Violets

As spring days warm and lengthen, cheerful purple violets are among the first perennials to bloom in my garden.

Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia 

Violets are practically a weed in my garden. Though they readily self-seed, violets do seem to have a preference as to where they like to grow. They choose not to populate the flowerbeds proper, preferring the outer margins of the garden and the edges of gravel pathways. Self-seeded violets can invade a lawn, and are considered a nuisance by some green grass purists. I have never had that happen, and even if I did, I am not sure I would consider it a problem. When it comes to light however, sun, part-shade and even full shade seem to make these easy-going plants happy. 

I know I have baby rabbits in the backyard when I find violets with decapitated stems. The heart shaped leaves seem to be a bunny's favourite food, but the stems don't seem to carry the same gastronomic appeal. 

We humans can eat violets as well. The flowers can be pinched from the stems and candied or used whole as a flourish on baked goods. 

The leaves of violets (but not Viola tricolor or pansies) are also edible. Leaves can be washed, spun dried and sprinkled into salads. Dried leaves can also find a use in soups or teas. 

Generally flowers with fragrance have the most flavour so Sweet Violet, Viola odorata, which has a sweet perfume, is the best violet to use when making syrups, ice cream or cordials. 

As well as the Common Blue Violet, Violet sororia, I also have a few native violets growing in my garden. 

The first violet is teeny-tiny. Dog Violet, Viola conspera is a native wildflower that is often found on damp forest floors (I am basing my identification of this violet on the Ontario Wildflowers website). This is sweet little violet with pale mauve-blue flowers.

Bird's-foot Violet, Viola pedata is on the endangered species list here in Ontario. In 2001 it was estimated that there were fewer than 7000 plants in only five locations. The natural habitat of this violet is rare black oak savanna (read more about Bird's-foot violets).

It's too bad because it's such a charming little flower. The stemless blooms are huge in comparison to the Common Violet, Viola sororia and are a blue-purple. The finely cut foliage is quite unique and gives the plant its common name "bird's-foot".

I happened across this violet only recently at one of my favourite nurseries. Discovering that it is an endangered plant has got me wondering what role gardeners can play in helping to ensure endangered plants don't disappear altogether. You can be sure I am going to shower this endangered violet with extra love and attention.

Here are a few varieties of violets worth watching for this spring at your favourite nursery:

Labrador Violet, Viola riviniana Purpurea Group is distinctive for its purplish-black foliage. It blooms in spring and sometimes in fall with diminutive mauve-purple flowers. Labrador Violets like rich, moist soil. Part-shade to full shade. Height:5-10 cm (2-4 inches), Spread:15-20 cm (6-8 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Isn't this a pretty little violet? It's a bit unusual, but with a little luck, you may be able 

to find it at a good nursery.

Viola sororia 'Freckles' has white flowers with china-blue speckles and heart-shaped, bright green leaves. This violet is native to Eastern North America. Part-shade or full shade. Average garden soil and average moisture levels will suit this violet. Viola sororia 'Freckles' will spread through self-seeding. Height: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches), Spread: 15-30 cm (6-12 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

Viola sororia 'Rubra' has flowers that are a warm shade of purple and heart-shaped, bright green foliage. Again this violet is native to Eastern North America. Part-shade or full shade. Average garden soil and average moisture levels will suit. This violet will self-seed and is great for naturalizing in a woodland setting. Height:10-15 cm (4-6 inches), Spread:15-20 cm (6-8 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

In the past I have been guilty of taking the violets in my garden for granted. It is a bit shortsighted of me. If a plant does well in your garden, surely it's a bit of a mistake not to play them up.

In doing the photography and research for this post, I think I have discovered a whole new appreciation for these cute purple flowers.

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The Perennial Matchmaker: Book Review and Giveaway

Magic happens when perennials are beautifully combined. Some gardeners just seem to have the creative knack for mixing plants to create pretty combinations, but the vast majority of us need a little help and that's where Nancy J. Ondra's latest book The Perennial Matchmaker comes in. 

This is a book whose practical tips and methods for creating plant pairings move beyond replicating pretty pictures. Drool-worthy pictures of plant combinations are all well and good, but if the plants pictured don't grow well in your garden, or aren't readily available to you, the inspiration is somewhat useless. 

The matchmaking process begins with a plant that is successful for you and builds out from there. Before you can begin to find the perfect partner for a plant, Nan suggests you need to identify a key feature you want to play up. It could be the color of the flower, the color of the foliage or any other attribute that you want to accentuate.

A combination from the book The Perennial Matchmaker: Allium Globemaster with Geranium macrorrhizum. (c) 2016 Nancy J. Ondra. Used with the permission of the publisher Rodale Books.

The Perennial Matchmaker showcases 80 popular perennials. There is a basic profile of each plant  

focusing on its key characteristics with notes on suggested partnerships based on color, shape and texture, and seasonal features. 

Of course when choosing the perfect partner not all the considerations are purely aesthetic. Some benefits are more practical. For instance, with alliums like the ones pictured above, Nan suggests that low mounded plants can help to disguise the yellowing foliage of alliums whose flowers have faded. 

Each perennial chapter also includes a handy list of potential "Bloom Buddies" that are likely to flower at the same time. 

Nancy's book offers the novice gardener ready-to-go ideas in of photographs of perennial partners and Nan's "Top 10 Perennial Pairings." For the more experienced gardener, there are chapters on how to find inspiration, tips for working with color, ideas for to adding seasonal interest and even ways of extending plant combinations beyond simply mixing perennials.

I must confess that my views on this book are not entirely unbiased. I, along with many other photographers and bloggers, contributed images to the book. It may surprise you to know that the photographs are my one minor disappointment with the book. There is some gorgeous photography in The Perennial Matchmaker, but most of the images are small. 

I have a feeling that the small photographs are intensional. I think Nan does not want readers limited to copying combinations they see in pictures. She wants to arm her readers with the tools and ideas necessary to create their own magical combinations.

I have a copy of The Perennial Matchmaker that I am going to give away in a draw. If you would like to enter, please leave a comment below. For this draw, I will have to limit a winner to North America. The draw will remain open for the next seven days.

More Information and Links:

About the author: Nancy J. Ondra is the author of more than a dozen books on gardening. As well as more than thirty years of gardening experience, she has owned and operated a rare plant nursery. Nan writes about Hayefield, her four acre property County Pennsylvania, on the blog hayefield.com. As well as The Perennial Matchmaker, Nan has a second book, Container Theme Gardens, that is newly released this spring.