Winter is a time for celebrations, even in the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont where much of nature now lies dormant.
When I think of December, I think of celebrations. With that, my mind jumps in many directions but always leads me to a feeling of home and connectivity. Phrases that resonate such as “Celebrate me home,” “Home is where the heart is” and “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” fill me with warmth and joy. Home is where I go to be myself, to connect to my past, reacquaint myself with my roots and receive encouragement for the coming year. Home to me means family and community. Whether I seek community in my past or create a sense of family and community where I reside in the present, I ground myself to the things that matter.
As I ground myself, I am led toward gratitude, reminiscing about the simple things in life, such as taking a walk outside on a blustery morning, sipping a warm drink to soothe my body and opening my senses to the world around me. I can think of no better place to do that in Charlottesville than the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, an emerging space in the heart of the city, whose core values are inspiring connection, learning and joy through nature. Walking its pathways, forest bathing to the sound of birds and even hugging the crooked cherry tree, I am grounded in small and large ways, celebrating this beautiful space and grateful to help steward its land.
A crooked cherry tree is seen in the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont in Charlottesville.
When I first arrived in Charlottesville, the garden and its staff and volunteers instantly welcomed me and helped me create a sense of community and belonging. What began as an opportunity for me to give back as a volunteer grew into a place where I have made lifelong friendships. Every day, I look forward to sharing with others my love for the garden and all that it offers.
At our recent Fall Festival, the garden welcomed local poet and University of Virginia associate professor Charlotte Matthews to share her poetry and curate a collaborative community poem written by those attending her workshop. Charlotte’s presence was supported by a grant the garden received from the National Endowment for the Arts celebrating poetry in nature. The poem, “The Color of Autumn,” will be shared in various spaces from our garden newsletter for subscribers to grant applications. The poem draws the reader to the wonders of the Garden, offering belonging to those who created it.
The Color of Autumn
Tell me what you see.
Havens for the plants, places
of wildness and peace.
Here in this sanctuary, marbled leaves
Don’t just fall, they flare, waking us up
to real harmony, reminding us
it’s possible to be red and orange and
storm cloud grey. It’s possible to dream
and have it all come true.
Here, where logs give way
to serpentine trails, a gateway
to wonder and hope. We can once again
remember how to dare to bloom.
– Charlotte Matthews
As we embrace the season — from the barren trees to the fallen snow — we find beauty in all that surrounds us. And on winter solstice, the longest night of the year, communities around the world celebrate the subsequent “return” of the sun leading us to hope, renewal and all that matters in the present. What does celebration mean to you? In whatever ways you choose to acknowledge the changing of seasons, I hope you find your home, your community and celebrate all that you are and all that is imaginable.
About the Author:
Laura McCall is the director of development for the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont. Her passions lie in the sustainability of communities and the arts. She is the owner of a writing and editing service.