Nasturtium, also known as Tropaeolum, or Indian Cress. (Science name Tropaeolum majus L.). Native to South and Central America, includes several very popular garden plants. Plants in this genus have showy, often intensely bright flowers, and rounded, peltate (shield-shaped) leaves with the petiole in the centre. The flowers are bisexual and zygomorphic, with five petals, a superior three-carpelled ovary, and a funnel-shaped nectar spur at the back, formed by modification of one of the five sepals.
Lately I have been touching the earth a lot, from my weekends volunteering with our community Bucket Brigade here in Santa Barbara helping to dig out homes, trees and treasures from the devastating February mudslides, to adding new seeds and plants to my mountaintop gardens. From the mudslides to the mountain side, earth is real, very real, full of life, resilience, and purpose to survive, in bad times and in good. Earth is truly what we all share in common. Some farm it, some build on it, some run and play. Some extract its riches, some abuse it, many respect it and work to ensure its well-being and longevity. We all eat from it in some form or another.
Sometimes we can get so caught up in our personal experiences, politics, goals, challenges and the busy day to day that we forget to just stop and appreciate our very foundation, the basis for all we do and create.
Though the mudslides were incredibly destructive, the nasturtiums have already begun to grow with their lily-pad like leaves and bright spring colors like the phoenix rising from the ashes. The sycamores, 4 feet deep in mud, were sharing their spring leaves. The earth worms were burrowing in their new moist home.
Like the earth, we are resilient. When creating a new business, or expanding your company, the challenges can feel burdensome, sometimes unfair, seemingly too challenging. Truly, that is life, and if we see it through Mother Nature’s eyes, it will fall into perspective. Like the nasturtiums, we can take each challenge as an opportunity to thrive in a new environment and blossom to your heart’s delight.
We are here at Christie & Co to help nurture your growth, and appreciate your accomplishments. We have been helping to grow companies for over 25 years. Looking forward to gardening together.
Gillian