Cultural Differences in Gardening. Who Knew?

 

    There are many types of gardeners, therefore you will see many different garden designs. Some people enjoy structure in their garden while others prefer a wild flower type of look. Expressionist gardeners put emotion and creative thought into their gardens and feel rewarded for their efforts. They are peerpetually changing their gardens - adding new plants, reworking beds, and changing flowers and vegatables with the seasons. Neither garden is WRONG. Just DIFFERENT.

    There have been studies done on whether there is a cultural difference when it comes to people's PREFERNCE in garden style and the answer is, YES, there is a noticeable difference in gardens when you look at their culture, or even ethnicity. Asian people prefer a certain style, Europeans prefer a certain style, Spanish prefer a certain style, and until recently, African Americans were not known or noticed to have a certain gardening style, but they do. All of this rich history gave rise, in part, to me creating my Facebook page: Black Peoople garden Too in Mississippi (13) Black People Garden Too in Mississippi | Facebook. To read a more indepth analysis about Black gardens and gardeners go to African-American Garden Culture: A Study of Tradition and Translation (lsu.edu). 

    It has been noticed in older gardens of Black People in rural Southern regions of America, "experienced objects" are used in their gardens. In Black People's gardens marigolds bloom in butter kits, geraniums glow in punctured dishpans, or in old objects used for washing or cooking, but nothing went to waste. You may see old water troughs, chicken feeders, washing machine tubs, old barbeque grills, and tires; throw-aways from society used for ornamentation. Miscellaneous items awaiting reuse were not trash.  There are flowers planted without a plan but cherfully blooming from their helter skelter places (Westmacott's study, Alomar and Brown). Many believe the new gardening style of repurposing items for the garden originated from this style of gardening of Black people in the rural South.

    You may also notice old rambling roses in these landscapes. In the post-Cival War era, there were formally enslaved Blacks who returned to the gardens they worked so hard to create. They went back to the burned down Antebellum homes and saved the heirloom plants (plants passed down from person to person. Many without names). They saved the aristocrats gardens. Even though their being enslaved did not hold fond memories, the plants they loved and nurtured while being enslaved did.

    We never stopped to notice the flowers tucked in every containers, or "no longer usuable for original purpose' now containing a flower, but this has always been a part of the Black garden landscape. Having a cultural style of gardening is not a bad thing. Gardens are a personal expression each gardener chooses. People my have a certain heritage and choose to have another culturally linked garden for their home. Here are a few cultural garden styles you may recognize as a favorite of your own.

 English/Cottage Garden Style: Blossoming in popularity during the Elizabethan era (1558–1603), English or Cottage gardens are marked by a tangle of informal, free-flowing ornamental and edible plants. Think charming plots of land brimming with rambling rose bushes, overgrown grasses and mixtures of flowery shrubs spilling out over stone paths. These gardens can include arbors, arches, fences and trellises.  These structures are designed to not only go well with the garden but also the house and overall theme as well. To achieve this look:

• Plant informally, creating a random effect that looks natural.
• Choose traditional plants such as Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle), lavender, roses, and geraniums.
• Add in edibles like apples, pears and pitless produce like strawberries or black currants.
• Minimize maintenance by selecting plants that aren’t susceptible to pests and disease.

Japanese Garden Style: this garden is exotic, with Zen-like minimalism. It is considered an art form dating back thousands of years. A Japanese garden should be graceful, well-balanced, and subtle. Water features are heavily used, such as a fountain, pond, water bowl or awaterfall, The use of rocks and boulders also help to create the atmosphere that you’re looking for. Plants used to achieve this look include:

• Bamboo
• Azalea
• Lilyturf
• Burning Bush
• Japanese Maple
• Magnolia trees

Italian Renaissance Garden Style: Inspired by the elegant grounds of ancient Rome and Greece, Italian Renaissance gardens conjure images of medieval villas with manicured landscapes, grand fountains and effigies of mythical deities carved from marble. Beauty, symmetry, and order are key elements of this garden style. To bring a bit of Italy to your backyard:

• Spread pea gravel on the ground
• Put out a cafe-style table andchairs
• Plant low box hedges to create boundaries
• Line stairways, terraces, or paths with small trees or topiaries in terra-cotta pots
• Add water features.

Dutch Garden Style: The Netherlands is flat, and therefore so are Dutch gardens. Effective use of limited space often plays a key role. Techniques, such as pruning and guiding trees add interest to the gardens. Much attention is paid to wildflowers and the existing biodiversity already in existence in the area. To emulate the country’s distinctive gardening style:

• Add geometric shapes to the landscape with hedges.
• Take advantage of straight lines by hemming concrete walkways with topiaries or miniature trees. This gives the space a formal feel.
• Include modern furniture and water features like a reflecting pool and trickling fountain.

French Provencal Garden Style: The French Provencal Garden is distinguished by bucolic elegance. Ideally a French garden will be clean, elegant, and sophisticated. To achieve a French-style garden, use a lot of green and white within the space.

Moroccan Garden Style: A fusion of Moorish, Islamic, and French design influences lush, serene Moroccan gardens. Think bold colors, glazed patterned tile, textured baskets, and cushy poufs. Typically built within interior courtyards, Moroccan garden style is all about outdoor living. Moroccan garden design lends itself to incorporating a hybrid of a desert and tropical theme within the space. You should incorporate:

• Hardscape features, which could include seating walls
• Fire pits
• Archways
• Raised planters.

Chinese Garden Style: For 3,000 years, Chinese emperors, kings, nobility, and scholars loved their gardens. Traditional Chinese gardens reconstruct scaled-down versions of the larger landscape. Chinese gardens incorporate some of the same plantings and hardscape as Japanese gardens. The overall feel instills a sense of peace and tranquility. Chinese gardens typically contain:

• Ornate pavilion
• Other smaller structures
• Winding paths that link to intimate, quiet, peaceful settings for contemplation and meditation.

Spanish Garden Style: Taking cues from Roman, Persian and Moorish design concepts, Spanish gardens combine Bougainvillea, begonias, cactus, andfruit trees (figs and citrus). Most are enclosed within walls or courtyards. Other elements to include:

• Terra-cotta pots
• Decorative water features
• Built-in grill islands
• Brick fireplace
• Low-voltage light fixtures.

Alpine Garden Style: Influenced heavily by nature, Alpine garden style features high-altitude horticulture interspersed with large boulders, cobbled paths, gravel beds, waterfalls and naturalrock retaining walls. Sprinkle in randomly placed vegetation and wildflowers in nooks and crannies. Create the alpine vibe by planting:

• Blackcurrants
• Gooseberries
• Raspberries
• Groundcovers of primula or creeping thyme, scattered about for a natural look.

Whatever your culture or ethnicity, gardening allows you to express who you are. To be free to create in any way you would like. It's all about you. Happy gardening to you all.

As always you can follow me on Facebook:(13) Black People Garden Too in Mississippi | Facebook

                                                     Twitter: (3) Dorothy Guyton (@ndefenseofwomen) / Twitter

                                                     Instagram: Dorothy Guyton (@gift_of_god_2) | Instagram

I am available locally to give garden presentation to your church, garden club, libray. Contact me here, or on facebook to schedule presentation date.

material for this post referneces: 9 Garden Styles From Around the World To Inspire You, by Toni DeBella Updated: Mar. 14,2023, and Conquer the Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country's Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers, Abra Lee, Dr. H. Hamilton Williams

 

                                             

Spring Fever and Horny

 

       The weather is warming up and the earth is coming alive again. Even though Mother Nature has been struggling to shake off winter, there are signs that Spring is on the way.

     Along with the change in nature, there comes a change in people. We gardeners are on the edge of our seats waiting to get into our gardens and feel our rich garden soil on our hands once again. We tour our garden dailiy looking for signs of life of plants we enjoyed the previous year. The plans for addittions we are going to add to our garden fills us with anticipation and it's hard to wait till Spring is here to stay. 

    When I was growing up I would hear my grandmother say when her grandchildren were acting impish, sassy, or a little out of control that the "Sap was rising," The elders, the old heads, grey heads, knew that along with the earth waking up during Spring, so were certain things waking up in people.

    The warm weather gives permission for legs, toes, arms, breasts, and all body parts to be released from it's constricting cover of coats, hats, boots, gloves that had been hiding and protecting them from the cold of winter. There is a shedding of our caccoon, just like the caterpillar that emerges as a butterfly. Just like that newly formed butterfly, we want to spread our wings and fly. And just like the butterfly and other newly emerged insects, our thoughts turn to mating. This energy of wanting to mate or find a mate is what my grandma refered to as the "Sap is rising." In laymen's terms, people are HORNY. That energy of rebirth is felt in nature and in us.

    Everything is emerging and has the promise of beauty. Gardeners tour their gardens daily looking for what is breaking through the dirt. The promise of the plant and visions of it in it's mature state, delights the gardener. Emotions are affected and changed by the promises of Spring. We look forward to all of the 'What can BE' in the garden.

On that same note, people look forward to 'What can BE' in their lives too. Some have been on a diet since the start of the new year and can't wait to show off their new body. Others are seeing those transformed bodies and their chances of being their new love. There is definitely a stirring of GROWTH happening in the soil and in us to produce and to reproduce. The energy is tangible.

    So what is the true definition of Spring Fever? It is a restlessness and excitement felt at the beginning of Spring. It may also be accompanied by an increase in energy, vitality, and sexual appetite. As far as the friskiness of spring fever goes, the sudden urge to cruise for potential mates may stem from a hormonal rush. In men, increased levels of circulating testosterone have been documented in summertime, a rise that may begin in spring and the stimulation of ovulation in women. This hormone is well known to increase amorous feelings in both men and women. Serotonin seems to be a key player in the spring fever phenomenon. One study explores the possibility that sun stimulates serotonin production through your skin, which explains the urge to be outside as much as possible when it’s nice out.

     Some people refer to this anticipation as "spring fever," but it turns out the phenomenon has a less-than-sexy origin story. Way back in the 18th century, people used to get sick with scurvy around springtime, because they didn't have access to fresh fruits or vegetables all winter. People would end up deficient in vitamin C, which made their gums bleed, their joints ache, and they generally just felt unambitious. This seasonal illness was dubbed "spring disease" or "spring fever," and somehow the name stuck.

    So if your 'Sap is rising,' you're not alone. The sap is rising in the trees, flowers, birds, and the bees. A rebirth is happening with great and unknown potential. Get outside, show those toes, arms and legs and get those hands dirty. it's SPRING TIME! Enjoy the sun and enjoy nature and do what comes naturally in Spring, GROW.

    As always, you can visit and follow me on my Facebook page:Black People garden Too in Mississippi (15) Black People Garden Too in Mississippi | Facebook

    On Twitter: (1) Dorothy Guyton (@ndefenseofwomen) / Twitter

    On Instagram: Dorothy Guyton (@gift_of_god_2) | Instagram

I give presentations locally on gardening and you can book me for your church, gardening club, or library by contacting me here or on my Facebook page.

Flowers and Tattoos OMG

 

    What is it about flowers that people love so much that they are willing to have them tattooed on themselves? I mean if you look at men and women with tattooes, you're going to see a flower somewhere on them. The flower of choice most times is the ROSE.

    I had the wondeful opportunity of going to a Tattoo Fest and I decided to interview people who were getting tattoos, who had tattoos, and the artists giving tattoos. My number one question was "Why do people get flower tattoos?"

    The first lady I interviewed while she was going under the ink was getting several flowers tattooed for each of her family members. She had looked up the flower for each of their birth months and was having them tattood in a carfully thought out pattern on her left shoulder. To her, flowers represented the people she loved most in her life.

    I remember back in the day when I first wanted a tattoo. It was the early 90's and people, especially men, would tell me, "Ladies don't have tattoos and you are a lady." I was discouraged at every point in getting a tattoo. But boy, did I want one.

    People look at people with tattoos and make judgements about them. At one time, you would not be able to get a job if you had a visible tattoo. Man, how times have changed. almost everyone has one and they are even on people's FACES. Yes. I ran into a young tattoo artist who had a rose tattooed on her left temple. I interviewed her and asked her why did she put it there? She said she just felt like it and roses are so beautiful. She said she was a little afraid of what her mother might say so she asked her if it was okay for her to put a tattoo on her face. Her mother's response was that she was grown and she could make that decision if she wanted to. Mom was okay with it.

    Tattoos are a way people express themselves. Their tattoos have meaning to them. And in that same vein, their FLOWER tattoos mean something to them. 

    The energy at the Tattoo Fest was so alive and vibrant. Everyone there was so happy to be there and tattoos were everywhere. It seemed to me, some people did not have anymore room on their body for another tattoo. But, just like people who have gardens, there is always room for another beloved plant and there is alway room for another beloved tattoo.

    When you think of the highly favored ROSE, you think of love and romance. People have rose tattoos for their loved ones such as their mother, girlfriend, child, spouse, and even a deceased family member, friend, or loved one. Rose tattoos seem to be very meaningful to people.

    The rose has a long history and meaning The red rose symbolizes romance, love, beauty, and courage. A red rosebud signifies beauty and purity. A thornless red rose means love at first sight. Yellow roses symbolize friendship and joy, and new beginnings. Orange roses symbolize fascination, desire, and sensuality. People may not know the meanings for the color of the rose they choose to have as a tattoo, they just know they want that particular flower. If you  have a rose tattoo, more than likely it's red. Here is the meaning for the colors of roses:

                                        RED: love, passion, romance, desire.

                                        PINK: femininty, elegance, grace, admiration, gentleness.

                                        PEACH: gratitude.

                                        PURPLE: enchantment, love at first sight, adoration.

                                        BLUE: (yes there are roses classified as blue) mystery,

                                        unattainability.

                                        GREEN: nature, rejuvenation, fertility.

                                        WHITE: new beginnings, hope, innocence, purity, loyalty.

                                        ORANGE: energy, enthusiasm.

                                        YELLOW: friendship, warmth, caring.

    In religious history, the rose became identified with the Virgin Mary and the rose symbol eventually led to the creation of the rosary. The rose is the national flower of England. In 1986 the rose was adopted as the national floral emblem of the United States. The rose is also the state flower of New York, adopted in 1955. Portland Oregon has the nickname as the "City of Roses," since 1888 and has held an annual Rose Festival since 1905.

    So why not have a flower tattoo? Flowers hold so much meaning. So much meaning until it would be impoosible for me to go into all of them in this one post. Maybe I'll do a series on tattoos and flowers and write about the signifigance of other flower tattoos. I ran into one lady who was planning on getting a lotus flower tattoo. I found her mysterious and intriguing just because she wanted a "lotus" tattoo.

    As I said earlier, men and women both enjoy and have flower tattoos. I know you are wondering whether or not I ever got a tattoo and the answer is yes. After I returned to the States, after serving in the First Gulf War, I decided if I was able to go to war I DESERVED a tattoo. Since then the stigma of women having tattoos has all but vanished. Women freely express themselves in all kinds of ways with tattoos in private and public areas of their body and are not seen as masculine or 'unlady like.'

    Flowers and tattoos go hand in hand beautifully. And just like in a garden, the flowers of choice has a story to tell. I enjoyed my day at the Tattoo Fest held in Jackson, MS at the TradeMart Center and look forward to attending next year and I will be prepared to get a new tattoo. 

    You can see all of the wonderful interviews I did on my Facebook page: Black People Garden Too in Mississippi. Please follow me here on my blog and on Facebook as well. I am available in the Mississippi area to give presentations about flowers. Leave a comment bellow to contact me or use the information to the right on this blog or contact me on Facebook to book an appointment for a presentation for you church, flower club,or local library.

    As always on my adventures I run into wonderful people and get to experience wonderful things. Here I am with a bearded dragon. Great fun.

    

Flower Show, The Garden Club of Jackson

     What can be better on a rainy dreary day than a Flower Show.

The Garden Club of Jackson hosted a flower show in Jackson, Mississippi at the Westin Hotel in downtown Jackson. Though it was raining, the flowers were shining. Guests were greeted by friendly smiling faces and creative exhibits to enjoy before entering the main area where floral displays were judged and awarded ribbons and certificates.

There were several categories of compitition but I was so busy being entralled with the flowers that I didn't even look at the catorgories or who actually won because they were all winners to me.

There were elaborate displays where I tried to figure out the name of the plants used. Which I could not. To simple bouquets of daffodils we all know and take for granted that made you just stop and stare.

I've always considered myself quite the romantic and the table scapes had me fighting back reaching out and touchibg them. I'm naughty by nature and it was difficult not to touch the tiny cake displayed to see if it was real.

I spent a wonderful hour surrounded by plant enthusiasts enjoying the beauty of nature. everyone was just in awe of the participants talent and green thumb. I met one of the members of the club and listened to all of the hard work that went into preparing for this event. Their work and attention to detail was evident and appreciated by all of the telling smiles of visitors.

If you ever have a chance to go to a Flower show, do it. It is an escape from all of the stress and pressures of daily life for a moment that may turn into an hour like it did for me. You will meet delightful friendly people amonst the flowers and plants and make a few connections as I did. I was told where a not too well known but glorious display of climbing roses is located and to bring my clippers and to wear long sleeves. If you know, you know (wink. wink).

Being a Garden Blogger is made easy when there are events to attend, gardens to visit, and gardeners willing to share their tips and gardening stories. It is a joy I hope I am relating to you in words and in pictures. Many people do not belive they can be a gardener, but a gardener will tell you, all you need is to love plants.

We all start with a somewhat brown thumb. In gardening you will have successes and you will have losses but through it all you gain happiness and experience.

All gardens have a beginning and the beginning is not where your garden ends. It grows and grows with time and before you know it, you have no more room for another plant. And in that magical place that has become a garden, you too will by chance or design have an award worthy, leaf, stem, flower, plant, or even a tree. It's up to you whether you are brave enough to take the chance and enter it into a Flower Show or your County Fair. I did once. I never thought about winning because it took all of my energy to muster up the courage to just enter the Attala County Fair. I was just consumed with doing that FIRST step. To my surprise I had several second and third place ribbons. The experience was electrifying. 

Sometimes in life, in so many areas, we consider what we do as less than or of no value when to others it is extraordinary. I have gardened over 20 years and have never considered my flower garden as beautiful as other people's gardens. But everytime a new person would pass by my garden they would tell me how beautiful it was.

So it's Spring time and gardeners thoughts are on adding those new plants they have always wanted to their garden. New gardeners are nervously eyeing the plants in the Garden Centers. And after experiencing this Flower Show, I say just go for it. Get your first plant or that plant you have been dying to have. Don't let people talk you out of buying it. THEY ARE NOT YOUR PEOPLE! Your people delight in the entire process of growing flowers and the best part is showing them off.

I am available for Garden Presentations in Mississippi

Contact me on my Facebook page: Black People Garden Too in Mississippi

or leave me a comment here and I will get back to you.

You can purchase my book: "Diary Of A Wannabe Gardener" on amazon.com

 

Gardener vs Flower Lover

[All pics from my garden] 

I've been gardening for over 20 years now, and I've come to notice something.

People see me in the garden center of the super stores buying plants. They will say, "What a pretty plant. Does it come back each year?" And if the answer is no, they quickly move on to what they were doing.

Once I make it to the check out line with plants I just could not resist, but have no idea where I can possibly squeeze into my already full garden, people in line say, "What beautiful plants. Do you have to water them?" When I say yes, I always here, "I don't have any time to be watering plants."

When someone comes to my home, I am shocked and pleased at how much they like my flower garden. But, it's not long before they say, "I wish I had time to have flowers. I just have so much to do."

Also while people tour my garden I hear, "You must spend a lot of money on your garden. I don't have any money for anything I can't eat."

I meet people everyday who want flowers at their home and that is as far as it goes. THEY WANT FLOWERS. They want their flowers to look like my flowers without anything I do for them to look like they do. People love FLOWERS but not GARDENS.

GARDENS are where flowers go to live. They are no longer a PLANT, but part of a family. THEY have a home. Families and homes require love and care to live and to thrive. BASIC needs must be met. When a person loves their family and home, meeting basic needs is not a chore, but actually a joy and expression of love.

Every gardener will tell you, one day they looked up and had hundreds of plants. Somehow, it just happened. That is because wherever their is LOVE there is GROWTH.

There are many plants that do come back each year and don't require a lot of watering. Some thrive on neglect. A person really interested in plants ask different questions.

When you meet a gardener they will say, "What a beuatiful plant. Where did you get that from?" When they see you with your buggy full of plants at the check out line they will say, "You know that plant is so easy to divide or can be rooted easy. I have given so many people pieces of that plant." When a gardener comes to my home and sees my flower garden they say, "I could sit out here all day just looking at the flowers, birds, and bees. Do you have hummingbirds?"

There is a DIFFERENT LANGUAGE spoken by flower lovers and gardeners. 

Through trial and error, gardeners have learned the plants that work for them in their garden. Some have gardens they water everyday filled with beautiful flowering annuals. Some gardeners ONLY have gardens filled with plants that come up every years and they never have to water them after the first year after they are planted. Their are gardens of only ornamental grasses and not one bloom. Water gardens, cactus gardens, you name it. But the common theme is that their plants have a home where they are home.

Advice is given to the single person all of the time, "If they want you, they will make time for you." The same holds true for flowers. If you love flowers enough, you will make time for them. 

I'm not disparaging flower lovers because we gardeners LOVE having flowers for you to enjoy. It gives us great pleasure seeing your reactions to our little beauties. Gardeners enjoy giving gardening tips and/or helping you start your own garden. I have just come to notice, gardeners are a different type of people and when we bump into each other in garden centers the reaction is like, "Yes. This is my tribe. My people."

So, which one are you, a gardener or a flower lover. We need both in this beautiful world of FLOWERS.

Go On, Google Yourself

Do you believe you have an ego problem if you google yourself just to see what pops up? I mean, we all believe we are the center of the universe right? I mean the world DOES revolve around us. On social media we are exciting, beautiful, fun loving people. Not an ugly one amonst us.

But my children once caught me googling myself and scolded me. They said, "What type of person sits around googling themselves?" I mean the internet is there! Why not give my name the good old spin and see what happens. Well, they google shamed me and I stopped doing it way back in 2011.

But, tell the truth. HAVE YOU GOOGLED YOURSELF? Did you like what you saw? Was there a gorgeous picture of you there for the world to see or the horror of knowing your address is available for ever crazy person out there to see?

Even before the INTERNET we humans have left a footprint wherever we went. We leave impressions dailiy on family, friends, and even strangers. We are not an island of solitude nor does the world revolve around us. But special and unique we remain.

If you have googled your name, do you look good on paper? One RIGHT or one WRONG comment can be life changing living in our era of cancel culture and trolls. A heavy presence on social media can make you or break you.

Google Blac Chyna and get an eye full. She is in the process of transforming herself but the OLD her will remain for all to see when her name Blac Chyna is searched. Being clever (not) she is now going to use her birth name, Angela Renee White, which will be forever linked and pulled up with the name Blac Chyna. She recently earned a doctorate degree from a Bible college. Okay. That's a 180 for the lady.

I said all of ther above to say this: So funny. While trying to set up a gardening page on Facebook (4) Black People Garden Too in Mississippi | Facebook I had to Google the link to my blog page. I had forgotten the exact name of my blog because I had recently changed it and THIS popped up.

ME being quoted for an upcoming movie release in 2012. “The Voice of John: a nurse speaks out on a baby born alive after an abortion.” By Kristi Burton Brown September 27, 2012 , 01:18pm.

I’ve been quoted before in articles, but not a film promo. My friend just recommended my book to someone in which this quote was taken from: “When Will Eve Be Forgiven?” Thanks friend.

What was the reaction from one of my children when I told them about my google search, "Wow! That's crazy!."

Do you realize I couldn't have beamed with pride for at least a week from my name and book being mentioned in connection with a movie release!!!! The window is GONE now! No peacock strut for me! 2012 is a decade gone by. DAMN!

So, even if the world does not reolve around you and you're not the center of the universe, go on do it. Google yourself. Let the people talk.