I'm trying to love the winter garden but to do so I'm forced to play mind games with myself. My cognitive behavior modification goes something like this. I discover my brain hatching a thought about how gray the day is, or how bleak the landscape appears, or how much I miss the flowers and foliage. I mentally pause, delete that thought and replace it with a new thought. The new self-talk sounds like, "Look at those lovely red twig dogwoods. Aren't they handsome and cheerful in their leaflessness? I wonder what that bush with the striking, poisonous-metallic looking purple berries is called? I should plant bushes and shrubs in my garden that add interest to my winter garden."
After this little re-framing effort, I start to notice the nice structures of shrubs, I become aware of bark textures, or notice intriguing berries. Then my sun-deprived mind runs off track again and starts with its negating voice. "Yes, but they probably aren't natives. Wonder if the birds will eat that? What IS the name of that plant?" I definitely struggle during the gray season to be optimistic.
To combat the drearies by doing something creative, I decided to photograph a few dramtic winter plants. MY winter garden looks drab, even with cognitive re-framing, though I left seed heads on a few plants for the birds, they now seem more of an eyesore than interesting.
Seward Park and Kubota Garden are full of plants that remain lushly green and foliaged all winter. Hmmm, nice going park folks! These parks aren't dull or barren or leafless in winter. I took lots of photos to remind myself what's possible with a little planning.
There's not much movement on the bulb front. The cold seems to have frozen their upward mobility. The crocus haven't sprouted, or else I don't recognize them.
There's more caucus than crocus in the air and I'm reminded that being green is a political statement, make no mistake about that! I'm generally dissatisfied with the level of discussion about the environment and sustainability by Presidential candidates. It is encouraging to see them acknowledging that the marketplace - read citizens with their purses- is creating a new growth segment, which the spin doctors have labelled the New Green Jobs. Duh! We are voting with our purchasing power for green energy; sustainable transportation; organic foods and materials; locally made goods; energy efficient homes, buildings and cars in numbers large enough to register on the politicos' radar screens.
Political Rant:
I'm outraged! I'm motivated to take action! I'm willing to walk precincts, whatever it takes to put an environmentalist in the White House, or at least someone who will protect the environment. Recently, EPA administrator, Stephen Johnson, in a hearing before the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, refused to acknowledge that global warming is a threat to human health. He was called before this committee to explain his recent decision to block 19 states from fighting global warming by raising vehicle emission standards in their states. Can you believe that?
That's like the fox guarding the hen house. If we want to preserve the environment, indeed the planet, we've got to caucus hard for the environment. If you haven't committed to caucus already, here's a link to help you pick a candidate.
League of Women Voters of Greater Seattle, a nonpartisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government, has an outstanding, downloadable, printable brochure on How to Pick a Candidate. Get it at http://www.seattlelwv.org/voterinfo
Don't know how Washington's caucus works or how to participate? Their webpage explains that. Confused about Washington's presidential primary? It's all there on the same site
Beyond caucusing and voting, I'm advocating for voting with our dollars and our purchasing power. This little resource book may change YOUR buying habits. It's certainly has changed mine. The Blue Pages, a Directory of Companies Rated by their Politics and Practices. Put Your Money Where your Values Are http://www.p3books.com/books/thebluepages/ It lists companies by sectors and shows the $ amount contributed to which political party, and a brief paragraph about their operating and political practices. Quick, concise and it seems to be balanced.
Another interesting website about the purchasing power of greenies is my Big Green Purse blog by Diane MacEachern, The following is from her blog entry January 9, 2008
"Women already spend $.85 of every dollar at the check-out counter. Just as they focused their votes in New Hampshire to send Hillary over the top, women who "vote with their dollars" to buy products and services that benefit the environment can create a groundswell of support for manufacturing that goes easy on the earth.... Diane MacEachern, the founder and CEO of Big Green Purse, is passionate about empowering women to use their marketplace clout to protect the environment. A best-selling author, successful entrepreneur, sought-after public speaker, and long-time conservationist, she has launched the only company in the U.S. dedicated specifically to transforming women's environmental concerns into measurable improvements in our quality of life." from her website.
If you've been following my little crusade of asking businesses for their Green Cards I think you'll like Diane's "take it to the cash register" attitude.
Vote informed! Shop informed!
League of Women Voters of Seattle
1620 18th Ave., Suite 101,
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 329-4848_Fax: (206) 329-1273
The Blue Pages, A Directory of Companies Rated by Their Politics and Practices
PoliPointPress
Big Green Purse
Diane MacEachern