Celebrating the 2021 Summer Solstice and
Presenting the New Perelandra Garden

from Machaelle Wright

Every year we start the next season’s garden in January by asking nature a series of questions. The very first question: Are there any changes needed this year for the garden DDP? (The guiding statement for the garden’s definition, direction and purpose.) For the past forty-five years, the answer to that question has been “no.” This year when I asked the question, the answer was “yes!” My first assumption was that my testing was wrong. So I put everything aside, came back the next day and asked it again. Again, “yes.” Then I launched into a weird conversation with nature and asked a series of new questions: “Really? Are you joking around? Have you not sobered up from your New Year’s celebrations? Are you pulling my leg? Has Covid driven you mad? Are you serious about changing the DDP?” “Yes.” “Is it an update or a complete change?” “It’s a new DDP.”

Here’s the original DDP that has held for forty-five years:
I want to learn as much as I can about nature from nature through the lens of a garden.

Here’s the abbreviated version of the new 2021 DDP:

• Provide support and balance for Machaelle and Perelandra during Machaelle’s full transition period. (Don't worry. I'm not leaving yet. I’m 75+ years old, remarkably healthy and enjoying a quiet, gentle final stage at Perelandra. It’s lovely.)

• Support and balance the Perelandra Business and Outreach as we move through the full transition period.

• Provide the support and balance needed for Perelandra and the business/outreach after the transition period is completed.

• The Perelandra Business DDP (a different DDP) is to remain activated as is and supported by the garden and its new DDP.

• Provide for all tincture production.

• Provide a balanced garden biosphere for all levels of nature and wildlife in light of the new variables. [This is the Perelandra garden’s new definition of “garden inclusion.”]

• Shift the focus from research within the context of a vegetable/flower/herb garden to a garden that balances, restores, gently heals, promotes quiet thought and contemplation, and provides a comforting break for the staff from the hubbub and stress of their workday and life.

With this new DDP activated, I proceeded with nature to get the changes. And boy, were there ever changes. In short, the Perelandra garden switched from an intense, annual vegetable, herb and flower garden to a perennial garden comprised of eleven trees, fifty-five bushes, a large sweetgrass patch and ten wildflower areas. At first I wondered how in the world I would pull off this daunting planting task. But on the first day of planting, six staffers from the business showed up at the garden ready to dig holes, plant, water and mulch. And they continued showing up for the next two months. We began planting the trees and bushes on April 1 and we completed the job on June 1.

Along with this, the fence that surrounds the garden biosphere and the gates have been repaired and essentially rebuilt. We have a new and expanded bird feeding area thanks to a young bear who skipped garden etiquette classes and destroyed posts and feeders to get to the seed. (Teenagers! What are we going to do with them?) And Dudley, our Environmental Warrior sculpture, is now standing proudly in the old tomato patch with his own tree (crab apple) and collection of bushes. It has now been officially renamed “Dudley’s Garden.”

The plants have taken off and developed beautifully. It’s a wonder to watch. And we have a new wildlife rhythm with all sorts of animals weaving in and out of the garden. (The bear has moved on for now.)

Lastly, I want to take this Summer Solstice to share our new Perelandra garden with you. I hope you can feel it’s extraordinary peace and healing.

Do you have more questions? Read our follow-up message with answers here.