I enjoy watching my garden emerge as dawn arrives in the summer. A special silence exists during those early hours, inspiring you to watch, listen and just let yourself be. Just before sunrise, the sky brightens and the earth doesn’t seem cold any longer.
At first, birds sing softly, almost hoping it’s alright to sound out and the bees move between flowers as they look for something. Mammals appear from the wilderness under the shrubs when the light of day becomes visible.
Many mornings, I am naturally attracted to the mullein plants. They are like guardians in the garden, tall and firm and their thick coating on the stem adds soft protection to the yellow and round flowers.
With a sunny glow, the late summer flowers reach upward, above my height, as if catching the first glimpse of sunlight. Mullein has a soft manner in the beginning, but it rises strongly to show its strength. It is definitely filled with life and activity.
Not too far from the mullein, a hummingbird zooms in and out between tangled honeysuckle with quick steps. Its wing beats sound like a small car and as it travels quickly, it weaves across the mullein stalks in and out many times in a hidden pattern.
The lighting you see shows the flash of iridescence for only a brief second, much like a jewel being moved. It’s hard to miss how alive everything is in the garden at this hour, thanks to the urgent and cheerful way the breeze blows.
Then there’s the woodpecker with a rhythm that changes things up and asks us to focus harder. Slowly up and down a mullein stalk, its beak moving gently and checking in all holes for insects or seeds. It appears unaware of how active the hummingbird is and how the sunlight changes.
It’s focused on what it does and seeing its exact process gives me confidence. The grass bends a little, yet it remains strong, looking like it’s used to many guests.
All the elements in the garden at these early hours seem to say ‘good morning’ quietly to each other. While watching, I feel as if I am part of something really sacred. Not just for the beauty or for the things I eat, but searching for these peaceful scenes is what I cherish about gardening.
When mullein, morning light, hummingbirds and woodpeckers are around, everything appears both calm and active at the same time. Watching the seasons unfold never gets boring for me.
