GardenMama

.: Into The Woods! :.

You are warmly welcomed to leave one comment per day on the beautiful Waldorf inspired giveaway!

.: True beauty was found in the woods on this October day :.

Once again I wish to bring you with us into the woods...There is such beauty to be found all around us in nature in this new autumnal season.  From each small detail revealed to us when we only look close enough to the fading of plants that are now past their flowering stage. With browning fragility they fall back towards the earth for a time of rest until next spring when the process begins anew.

.: There is such richness to be found in nature! :.

There also still is vibrant life growing up in these woods. The wildness of the weeds makes for my favorite type of bouquet. The purples, yellows and whites renew my spirits and share with us the artist in the woods who planted and placed everything so perfectly.

.: The sight of children running free in the forest, along a beach, or in a field always moves me! :.

We watch the children running along the trails. Little cheeks cool to the touch, kissed by the crisp autumn air rosey like Waldorf dolls. They dart off into the woods,  finding rooms among the trees that they know only from their dreams.  Ancient trees with curving limbs and a circle of toadstools that are so tall we can hardly believe our eyes.  We stand in awe of this seemingly untouched piece of nature that brings our dreams to life!

.: Beautiful artistry in the forest at each turn! :.

The colors, shapes, and textures that are so creatively paired together on this October day are stunning. I feel as if we have stumbled upon a place that holds magic within each step. These lush woods are so full with life and beauty.This is what can happen when pure nature is left to thrive. Our eyes sparkle with these rich sights.

.: A horshoe crab shell that we noticed among the seaweed :.

As the forest meets the ocean we walk through some wildflowers to a spot where seaweed has been washing up for many years.  Little fish jump in the waters, and shells are scattered at the shore from the seagulls flying overhead taking their mid-day lunch.  We notice in the seaweed a fully intact Horseshoe crab. We take some time to sit with it for a while and notice each detail of this prehistoric creature!

.: Many rainbows where found today! :.

.: Red berries speckled by the dust of a fairy that flew overhead :.

I apreciate the delicate details encountered along the paths that we notice with our nature eyes.  Tiny red berries scattered all across this forest are speckled with a golden dust that the fairies carry with them on their wings as they quickly fly past us overhead.

.: Looking for wildflowers that grew up tall all around us :.

.: Finding bouquets to be given one stem at a time! :.

Usually it is my daughter who  likes to gather wild bouquets for the table.  Today it was my youngest son who enjoyed sharing these sweet flowers with me.  One by one he handed them to me and soon a beautiful bouquet appeared.  This little one is growing up so beautifully along with his brother and sister right before my eyes!

.:   Beautiful green and yellow leaves remind us of a watercolor painting :.

 

.: Clusters of yellow berries reminiscent of grapes growing wildly all around :.

The colors of this day announce themselves over and over again in various parts of the forest and sea.  Yellows are mirrored through the berrries, Goldenrod, and Lichen growing along the shore.

.: Hidden among the reeds, she plays with seaweed and the tall grasses :.

There is such adventure to be found through the tall reeds that shelter us as we sit on the rocks.  The waves gently splash up against the rocks and the scent of salt effuses into the air as we create 'Seaweed dolls.'

 

.: Honeysuckle grows wildly all around us, mingling with the red, yellow, and orange berries to create an aromatic bouquet in mid-air :.

.: The colorful leaves of autumn! :.

We enjoy being present in these days of autumn. How quickly it came to visit us and how quickly it moves into winter.  We do not want to miss one moment of these woods while they are so warm with lush color!

.: Seed Savers :.

.: Three sets of hands working together to preserve the seeds from this sunflower :.

The work we do in our homes creates meaning within our lives together and shares with our children that we can create beauty in the things that we do as well as looking at our work in a positive light rather than hurrying just to get things done. 

Taking the time to appreciate these slow processes not only strengthens our bonds together as a family it also creates lasting memories of fun, learning, and connection  to see things done from start to finish.

.: A smaller sunflower variety that was sewn by the birds--now the seeds gathered by the children :.

A slow process we enjoyed over these past few days was that of saving seeds from our garden. We appreciate sharing with our children that through these processes that we can all participate in these intricate processes of nature and find beauty there.

 

 .: Saving seeds, the important work and play that filled our day :.

As we harvested some of the sunflowers we learned so much-- from noticing the praying mantis that made it's home sitting atop these large sunflower heads--to  just how many flowers will emerge from just one flower.

 


.: This gathering slowed us down while we just sat concentrating on our work :.

We learned about the circularity of life while noticing tiny worms that were feasting inside the sunflower seeds. We noticed  the birds eating the seeds and planting them as they fell to the ground, growing their own food. We took notice of how saving seeds affects our lives in so many profound ways.

.: Noticing each and every chamber that holds a seed :.

Over these past few days of saving seeds we appreciated the beauty and variety of seeds, from size shape and color differences. This slow process allowed us to take notice of these things. 

.: Two very different looking sunflower seed varieties were gathered today :.

We are gently reminded that life is a process of time and that all life begins anew with a special promise hidden inside a seed.  

.: My oldest son sat the longest with his work :.

The children are excited to hold the seeds collected on this day and notice their diverse lines and textures. They know that running through their tiny fingers are fields of glorious Sunflowers, and they will stand eye to eye with them as friends only a summer's distance away.

.: This now empty sunflower reminds me of a honeycomb :.

The sunflower seed saving inspired us to take a walk around the yard to see what other seed heads shared themselves with us. We found an abundance of dried Iris pods and enjoyed the process of gathering as well as noticing the fine details of how this plant saved it's own seeds and how the wind shakes it's rattle- like pod to drop the seeds into the soil.

.:Each empty Iris seed head will now join the children's play kitchen to remind them of their efforts on this day :.

We enjoyed noticing the chambers of the Iris seed head and how it stored the seeds in just one chamber.  We appreciated the beauty of each piece of this plant through it's various cycles and took note of the magic that every plant holds within.

.: Working together sorting Iris seeds :.

I look forward to creating a beautiful envelope for these varieties of seeds and look to the future when these seeds are sown into the soil and set free to perform magic!
 

.: The magic of a towering sunflower grown from a tiny seed  defines a miracle to me! :.

.: Autumn Woods :.

Thank you all for your sweet comments in the last post! I appreciate your friendship and look forward to continued creative and  fun changes in this space that I will share with you soon!

.: Signs of Autumn present themselves along the wooded trails :.

With warm hearts we welcome this rich new Autumn season!  With beauty she makes herself known through warm tones of color and brings about a time of inward reflection. 

.: Beautiful color found on this Autumn day! :.

Today we headed outdoors into the woods. Onward we walked the trails alongside a salt water marsh that met us along the way.  Autumn brings with her a refreshing rhythm, a beautiful celebration of nature to be discovered and brought indoors to grace each table and sill.
   

.: We created bouquets of these beautiful berries found in the forest today! :.

.: Yellow!  A sure sign of this new season! :.

The gift of four distinct seasons bring with them a familiar quantity-- yet when I see new yellow berries forming and tinges of color sharing themselves in the trees, it all feels new once again. I am grateful for such artwork displayed outdoors!
 

.: Watercolor painting left along the trail by the fairies of the forest :.

.: Goldenrod - A beautiful useful plant found in abundance today! :.

Clearly we can see the fairies of the forest are doing their work too.  With leaves as their canvas their watercolor paintings hang to dry among the trees.

.: Sharing in the magic and play with our old friend Milkweed! :.

Happily we met up with our beloved friend Milkweed. We couldn't help stopping for a moment to say "Hello" when Milkweed called out to us to play!
 

.: As soft as silk :.

Such a playful and wise autumn friend, she makes us laugh while she floats her seed babies up in the air and we catch them once again!
 

.: While using our 'Nature Eyes' we spotted these colorful insects :.

The creatures of the forest know this season well. They are busy with their work and are thankful for the gifts it offers to them. 
 

.: Hidden trails scented by the salty air of the ocean! :.

Our little one led the way through a narrow path that brought us an instant scent of salt. Soon the ocean was revealed just down this path in the woods!

.: The color of the day came right to the water's edge :.

.: Noticing crabs along the sand and tiny fish jumping nearby :.

Seaweed float up along the shore, seagulls fish for their lunch, and the clouds billow out and above the glorious sea to bring such wonder to our day!

.: Tiny bouquets were created  :.

As two of my littles and I spent some time collecting a few wildflowers my husband and eldest son were further along the trail and soon let us know they found a grand old tree in the woods.
 

.: The outstretched arms of trees always welcome us to play! :.

I appreciate finding ways to celebrate nature and the seasons in these simple visits outdoors which leave the most warming impressions!