• Visit from Spirit Animal

    We put a bird feeder right outside our sitting room window. I suppose watching the birds is a form of mediation for me. This has been a tough winter. Lots of snow. Lots of cold. I enjoy offering food to our winter residents–chickadees, nuthatches, titmouse,… Read more

  • Keystone Plants

    The term ‘keystone plant’ has been popping up in my reading and in my native plant research. Keystone plants are native plants that form the foundation of an ecosystem. These plants are essential for the lifecycle of many species. They support a high percentage of… Read more

  • Garden Planning

    I’ve written a few pieces for Wild Ones on native plants to consider adding to home gardens. I like writing these pieces because I learn about native plants and the benefits they bring to the landscape. So as the temperatures are close to zero and… Read more

  • Wonder

    In a moment of quiet as I gazed out the back window, the word ‘wonder’ came to me and the hymn: I wonder as I wander out under the sky And wonder is my word of the year. As a gardener, when I stop with… Read more

  • Winter Pays A Visit

    A winter storm blew through last night and into this morning. The snow bands have moved on though the wind is still blowing. The treetops, and sometimes the entire tree trunk, sway as the wind blows past. I can hear the wind as it makes… Read more

  • Keeping Christmas

    We are in a quieter season of life and we keep a quieter Christmas. We put up the tree, artificial now, and decorate with ornaments the kids made and with ornaments we’ve collected or we were gifted through the years. A wreath at the front… Read more

  • Embracing Winter

    Winter has begun. Though it has felt like winter since the end of November. A few feet of snow on the ground and below freezing temperatures. Winter began a bit early for me though I am happy I got most of the garden tucked in… Read more

  • Golden Hour

    It is that time of year when the light turns to gold. The sugar maples filter the sun and we are bathed in the soft light of autumn. The backyard is a tapestry of yellow, gold, and still some green. I was afraid we would… Read more

  • That Rainy Day Feeling

    I love those days when it is softly raining. Maybe a bit of thunder. I’ve been able to enjoy many of those days this summer since it has been wet. We’ve had all day rains. Spotty rain. And torrential rain. And living in a forest… Read more

  • A Different Point of View

    We went fishing with a friend early one morning. The stars were still out and Lake Michigan was glassy smooth. Heading out of the harbor, I leaned back and watched the blanket of stars move slowly overhead. I felt part of something much bigger. And… Read more

Heart & Soil

Heart & Soil is written by & copyright Mary Pellerito