By Francesca Filanc, for Let’s Talk Plants! February 2025.
Grateful For the Garden in Uncertain Times
Several ideas have come to mind for this February article considering it is the month of love with Valentine’s Day on the 14th.
In light of the apocalyptic fire disasters in the Los Angeles region this January it seems an important subject to address.
Thousands of people have lost their homes. People who were fortunate enough to go back to their homes intact are despondent by the devastation all around them and feeling so badly for the people that have lost their homes and those that have died during this tragedy. We are indebted and all so grateful for the firefighters and all the men and women, first responders working so tirelessly to help put out fires. These men and women are all heroes, and we salute them. Many of us are helping financially in whatever way we can. There are many ways to give, such as GoFundMe and more. Many people in LA have been volunteering their time in whatever way they can to help, giving food and clothing, whatever is needed to the evacuees and helping the fire fighters also in many many ways.
Francesca has written about her Firefighter rose here:
In light of this apocalyptic disaster, millions more Californians are figuring out how to be prepared in case they too face evacuation. People are taking measures to see what they can do to protect their homes next time they have to evacuate and leave their homes.
People who have swimming pools can rig a system up on their roof in case of fire danger to put a pump in the pool that will spray the roof. One can Google the fire safe council in your area, calfire.com to find out what to do to ensure the safety of your home, if possible, in the event of a disaster in your area.
Gutters need to be cleaned out to remove leaves and debris from one’s roof. Yesterday I spent two hours putting a forceful nozzle on the hose and watered up into the trees around my property. This is definitely not enough, but it made me feel good to physically do something myself. I have lists to discuss with the gardeners this week on pruning and cutting down some trees.
As gardeners it is upsetting thinking that we might have to cut down trees or shrubs that we love, but what is more important is the safety of our homes in the event of a catastrophic event.
For two hours I took a break from writing this article to go outside and water. It felt so good mentally to do what I can to try and protect the garden and home.
On coming back to the computer, I hear firetrucks, and I pray to God that a fire did not break out close to my home. Just a reminder of this time that we live in. But at the same time, I hear frogs croaking in the garden, grateful for the water that possibly just fell on their backs. Birds are singing and flying to and fro, going from trees to shrubs undoubtedly happy to feel drops of water on their backs.
When these fires started at the beginning of this month in Los Angeles, I fell asleep one night praying for rain. In my dream it rained in LA and also down here. Unfortunately, it was only a dream.
Hopefully, we will get rain tonight and tomorrow which is in the forecast. In the meantime, we need to do all we can do to prepare ourselves and our homes for readiness in the event that catastrophic events present themselves here in San Diego County.
February is a great time to have some friends over in the garden with a meal, tea, or coffee to celebrate people that we love. A fun idea would be making Tussie-Mussies for all your guests. Place one at each table setting for them to take home. This is also a great activity to do with one’s children or grandchildren. If your grandchildren live close by you could have a tea party with them. Everybody could get all dressed up and they could all make Tussie-Mussies or lavender wands that they could each take home.
Francesca has written about Tussie-Mussies and lavender wands here:
Let’s take from the wisdom of Native Americans and do rain dances and pray for rain!
Happy Gardening!
~Francesca
Artist, author, photographer, fly-fisher woman, Francesca Filanc grew up in old Del Mar and these days lives, paints and gardens in historic Olivenhain with her two dogs.
Find her art and writings here:
She can be found on social media:
Have gardening questions or want to learn more about Francie’s art? Contact: Franfilanc@gmail.com
