We Will Always Choose Earth - Native Gardens, Bumblebees, and One Good Earth

"It's just another day in the good-bad, bad-good earth machine."
— Kate Baer, And Yet: Poems

Ok, humor me, I need to talk about the Artemis mission for a quick second. Who doesn't love astronauts? They get to see the whole picture, our beautiful planet suspended in pitch black, and they ultimately always come back saying the same thing, to paraphrase, we have one earth and she is worth protecting.

When NASA astronaut Christina Koch returned from the Artemis II mission, she said "But ultimately we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other." So much love. 

And so Larkspur continues. In our little corner. With our shovels and our perennials and our stubbornness. :)

And while we're on the subject of resilience, did you hear about the bumblebees? A new study found that queen bumblebees can survive fully submerged underwater for up to a week. While in their winter dormancy, they slow their metabolism by 99%, breathe underwater, and reanimate days later like nothing happened. Scientists think they may use a physical gill, a thin layer of air around their bodies. When conditions improve, they come back!! Read with this New York Times gift article. 

Weekend weather warning: You've likely seen the forecast. If you're enjoying your blooms, you can protect them, simply flip a bucket over them, use a cardboard box, frost cloth with a sturdy frame underneath, whatever you have works. If you've recently planted, give the roots a deep watering beforehand to help insulate them from the freeze. Good luck out there! And this is exactly why we don't plant until mid-to-late May, no matter how convincingly the early forecast tricks us.

Water restriction update: Drip irrigation is NOT included in the current water restrictions. So if you have a new native garden on drip, or are planning one, you are good to go. We'll keep you posted as we get more clarity.

A little joy on our way out. . . In the past both Nicoles have taken Erin Benzakein's cutting flower course through Floret, and if you don't already follow her, consider this your invitation. She is a marvel. Here's a beautiful video of Erin talking about her creative practice in floral design. 

If you made it this far, thank you. Keep protecting what you love, even if it's just with a cardboard box and a prayer.

Love,

The Nicoles