20180723_191004

 

 

20180723_191026

Jenny took time off from work.  Alyssia packed up dog and baby and arrived.  We were ready.  I had picked one of what i am sure are native plums,  and one of its leaves….to ask for identification.  We waited.   then Alyssia and Jenny began to continue to dismantle the broken trampoline.   Time went by and after a half hour i called, to a voice mail…?????  and then after an hour and a half he called.  Permaculture guy…..had gone way north very early for something and it took longer than he'd expected.  I was so bummed.  Jenny went home.  Alyssia Emrie and i on to other things.   So…we have another appointment for next week.   In the meantime,  i'll need to wait to know something about this plant person.  She is just at the spigot that is at the juncture  water from the City water at the road and here at the base of the HILL.   

Alyssia is a master of detail.  She has a gift.   I am often lost in the big picture,  lost in a rolling Epic that takes place inside my head.  A couple days ago,  she asked if i'd smelled this plant person at the spigot??,  no.   Smell it, she said.  Next morning i did.  Ran my hand lightly up leaves and a fragrance released that was incredible.  Pungent,  somehow unidentifiable,  seeming to be a mix of many things…an aroma of , Alyssia says ,sage,  i say rosemary and with MORE,  and for sure a citrus rush…and on your hand,  a lingering substance,  sticky but disappearing soon.   

Who is she?

and the next day,  i see that all across that area of the Meadow that was mowed,  more of her have sprung up.  Who IS she?  Having realized that the question is of Reciprocity,  i see her as the first to speak.  I see her choice of positioning,  right at the spigot,  her language of Scent….i see her Agency.  I see her speaking about knowing first before doing.  I hear her saying that before we decide to do anything with/about that meadow,  we need to learn more.  Her kin are there..having been hidden by the taller grasses that have now dried and become pale….she remains GREEN.  Her tribe is GREEN.  As the daily temps of 100 degrees continue,  there is no lessening of Green.  Who is this?  and what does she have to tell?

 

 

 

Posted in

23 responses to “the day came and went”

  1. Mo Crow Avatar

    x fingers your local permaculture person will show up soon & re your mystery plant, looks a bit like Tarragon, perhaps a native variety?

    Like

  2. dee Avatar

    My first thought was Rosemary just looking at it. Wouldn’t that be nice? I’m glad you’re a big picture person!

    Like

  3. Liz A Avatar

    Rosemary popped into my head, too … but very likely something related in the aromatic mint family Lamiaceae (which includes my beloved Salvia sages).
    Until your guy gets there (and afterwards, too) you might find this Native Plant database useful:
    https://www.wildflower.org/plants/
    It lets you look up by location, time of year, etc. The results include great pictures, lots of info and links to other sources
    Happy hunting!

    Like

  4. Liz A Avatar

    And just now looking at images of tarragon … Mo’s definitely got something there (as usual)

    Like

  5. Cheryl Avatar
    Cheryl

    The leaf pattern looks similar to helichrysum, but your leaves may be smoother/shinier. Please let us know when you get a definitive identification. Aren’t Nature’s gifts just fascinating?

    Like

  6. joanne Avatar
    joanne

    Well, rosemary came to mind first. But tarragon has the same leaf structure but not as stiff. I don’t know much about California herbs but it could be variety sage. The rosemary scent is usually resin like. Pungent. You can press oils from rosemary leaves.
    I know it would be dangerous to taste in case it is toxic.
    Sounds as if your permaculture guy is “fugitive” (a term we use in art to describe color that disappears)- I hope you didn’t pay up front.

    Like

  7. joanne Avatar
    joanne

    Oh–I forgot–lavender. The leaf also looks like this.

    Like

  8. Michelle Slater Avatar

    WAITING with you and with bated breath. What Joy the guest exhibits.

    Like

  9. Michelle Slater Avatar

    PS My guess is Lavender.

    Like

  10. Acey Avatar
    Acey

    I know this plant from my variety of times visiting the outskirts of Willits and Laytonville. But I don’t know what it’s called I just feel her energy. As I have felt it in those other times. Your story about her is wonderful.
    Are you close to any Manzanitas? I miss them so much …

    Like

  11. grace Forrest Avatar

    Acey!!!, Thank You for coming. Yes, her energy is Huge. Really doesn’t matter her white “name”…although i still want to know because I am of both worlds
    i live among Manzanitas….they are here. Just above
    B there is a young one that i see always. They live here, through out this Hill forest.
    thank you for coming here

    Like

  12. grace Forrest Avatar

    Sue in Calagry, i have been there, Calgary, so i can close my eyes and remember. Know where you are…
    Thank you for these links…i look

    Like

  13. jude Avatar

    i knew acey would show up. was waiting I would have said rosemary

    Like

  14. Acey Avatar
    Acey

    I have posted several times – always asking about the manzanitas (the first Tree that shook my soul and warmed my heart during the summer I turned 15) but they never seem to go all the way through. I have definitely been around watching. Feeling. Thinking. Re-membering … Their flower medicine spirit is the perfect guardian for a matrilinear grouping such as your own.

    Like

  15. Acey Avatar
    Acey

    ha! yes.

    Like

  16. grace Forrest Avatar
  17. grace Forrest Avatar

    my experience with rosemary is woodier structure

    Like

  18. grace Forrest Avatar

    could spend my life looking things up online…
    SO much information

    Like

  19. grace Forrest Avatar

    these leaves are velvety, furry, soft.

    Like

  20. grace Forrest Avatar

    resin like. yes. very much resin like.
    He is ok. Don’t think fugitive, but we’ll see soon.
    He is just wild with possibility right now..so much
    going on, so much more he wants to put into motion.
    So much possible he can DO
    it’s Monday. Thursday comes. Fingers Crossed.

    Like

  21. grace Forrest Avatar

    oh, EEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeee, Michelle,

    Like

  22. grace Forrest Avatar

    i will now know that you are with that flowering. Will
    call it the Acey Moon for them. What’s happening now
    is astounding, need to get a photograph…
    their BARK is
    well, peeling….is this how they GROW? then????
    old skin peels off?
    I’ll get a pic
    We NEED a Guardian

    Like

Leave a comment