How the garden speaks

 

Something I fall in love with Brainbridge Island is the group of people who work hard to maintain the gardens of the library. A group mainly of women with diverse expertices, who fill the library with joy with beautiful combinations of plants. 

My first approach with this tidy volunteers was because in one of my visits to the library I found in the parking lot the sign that you can see in the first photo and, as curious as I am, I approach Patrick, one of the incredible librarians, He contacted Ann Joylove, a garden designer, writer and social activist and something like the actual leader of this group, who not only invited me to join her group but welcomed me along with the other girls in the warmest way. 

The group varies depending on the season because it is a job that is done for the well-being of the Brainbridge community, and has no economic remuneration,  but that takes advantage of the experiences of each person in a spectacular way to get to have a space that communicates and shares the best of this beautiful community.

If you have the opportunity to visit the library I recommend you to go through the different parts of the gardens and enjoy some commemorative parts of them, from the composting area to the Japanese garden,  the combination of native plants and plants representing other countries give an extraordinary experience

Talking with Ann and the ladies i identify some amazing things that the plants can teach us

• If your garden or your community are all the same you lose the essence of space and growth is not optimal.
• Seeking diversity supports the growth of new species more resistant to change but it is always important to respect and complement native species. 
• On occasion, something that looks pretty or aesthetically pleasing can be dangerous because it can be invasive and cause an imbalance, an example of this is Scotch Broom a plant that for its beauty was incorporated in the gardens of some houses but for not being of the area and its way of reproducing has invaded the roads, houses and forests, which is very dangerous because it is a flammable plant that its seed can last more than 25 years
• If you are in a place where you do not belong you can stop your growth, so it is important to surround yourself with the right environment.
• Design can tell a lot about the personality of its carers, in ancient Europe it was used to generate gardens that looked more artificial and also as a society were not so open to diversity. 
• Caring for a garden teaches us that sometimes you can work for something that maybe you can not enjoy, because as Ann said she planted a tree 20 years ago without knowing if she could enjoy its shade, and now she along with her family visit the tree that although still young already has a beautiful shade.

Thanks for this experience to the worderful ladies that receive me in that wonderful way and teach me more about the plants and the meaning of them in your life.

If you are in Brainbridge on Friday morning and you have the chance, don't miss the expirience of be part of this amazing project. Just take your gloves and visit the library at 10 am on Fridays.