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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper August 2017 Page 33

by Christine Maccabee

On The W ild Side (left) Morning Star Sedge

(below) Coneflower

“Ear th Stars” Photos by Christine Maccabee

“R ight her e on E ar th ther e ar e pr obably as man y ‘stars ’ as
ther e ar e in out er spac e. Not enou gh can b e said as t o need
for h uman-k ind t o fo cus mor e on these t err estrial stars ,
pr eser ving them and the w onder and go o dness of their E ar th
for generations t o c ome.”
— C.M. humans, in this, our rainforest. By
August, the final show will begin
Ever since my early twenties, Each design I made was unique, and I look forward to it.
I have been fascinated by flowers and many reminded people of I look forward to witnessing
of every variety and, thus, began snowflakes. If you look at a flower thousands of tiny Aster flower stars,
seriously investigating them. At that closely, especially those that radiate and hearing the profound sound of
time, I was also reading literature perfectly symmetrically from the untold number of wings whirring
about the ancient tradition of center, then you will understand as the bees fuel up for the coming
mandalas as a meditation tool in my fascination. In fact, there are inevitable cold weather. The essential
India. The mandala has a center people who seriously meditate on Golden Rod flowers will also begin
that symbolizes the source of life, flowers, thus creating more of a blooming (Golden Rod is not a major will be added to teas I make from
be it Allah, God, the Great Spirit, sense of balance in their lives. For pollen producer that creates allergies, other herbs I grow. Coneflowers
or whatever one might call it. me, creating mandalas was a waking as some people mistakenly think), and provide Echinacea, which is
The center holds everything else and a working meditation, keeping I will watch as the Monarch butterflies important as an immune system
together, like the spoke of a wheel, me centered and focused as I created feed on them before their long journeys enhancing herb. The root is the most
and without it, things would fall each one; I sold hundreds of framed south. Did you know there are, or potent, so here and there, I will pull
apart and there would be chaos. pieces over a period of twenty years. were, 2,687 species of Aster and 16 some out for their roots.
From that center radiates Creation, Now I simply grow flowers. species of Golden Rods in America; on Unfortunately, there is an
or life, in all of its amazing This summer, I had a newcomer my property, I have about 5 species of ongoing war being conducted
diversity and beauty. Similarly, most to my gardens: the Morning Star each. against Earth’s stars, in the form of
flowers have this same feature, with Sedge, a native grass that I did not The beautiful earthly flower stars, herbicides, pesticides, and habitat
centers from which reproduction plant, but which was brought here besides providing food for a wide loss. Next month, I will continue
occurs in the form of seeds. That by a bird, no doubt. I discovered it variety of pollinators and birds, are speaking for the wildflowers and the
center of nectar, pollen, and seeds quite by accident, along a pathway a source of inspiration to humans. health of our planet, our people, and
serves the purpose of ongoing down to my main garden, and was Also, it is well known that some all our relations.
sustenance, thus enabling ongoing astonished when I saw it. It is not have important medicinal properties, Meanwhile, I suggest you walk
life for myriad life forms, including, a flower at all, but a type of native such as the Coneflower. I will soon slowly and often in wild places
of course, people. grass, used ornamentally by some gather and dry the flowers and where wild things grow, and don’t
Captivated by this reality, I people in their landscaping. The leaves of my Coneflowers, which forget to look to the stars!
created mandalas from various parts seed head is beautiful, very star-
of flowers, using stamen, pistil, like and perfectly symmetrical. You Christine is a Master Naturalist in Maryland and has developed a Wildlife Habitat
petals, leaves, and bracts, basically may be familiar with its graceful Sanctuary and Native Plant Preserve on her property, just 10 minutes north of
dissecting the flowers carefully but sturdy grasses from which the Thurmont. You are welcome to visit by appointment. She can be reached by email
and pressing the various parts. stems of the seed heads emerge. at [email protected].
The seed heads are a lovely green,
which turn chocolate brown by
late summer. By early autumn, I
am sure that the wild birds will be
enjoying those seeds, as well as the
seeds of the chicory and woodland
sunflowers, which I also have here
in my gardens as habitat.
As anyone who reads this column
knows, I am passionate about
preserving habitat for pollinators
and birds. Here on my 11+ acreage,
I am purposely allowing close to
one hundred wild native plants to
complete their entire life cycles,
from flower to seed. Such diversity
of plant life—no matter how tall and
gangly or small—sustains the health
of a host of animals, insects, and