Gwenythe briat Harvey, Horticulturist and Manager of The Garden Goddess, was a guest of the Findhorn Community, Scotland in March of 2007 and re-installed a celtic cross herb garden while there. Click the Findhorn link at the bottom of this page to view the story and some spectacular photographs of her adventures across the Isle of Mull to the Findhorn Community on the Isle of Erraid. View two original Celtic Herb Garden Designs which are available for downloading.
History: I have been reading about Findhorn since the 70's, and working with plants in much the same way as Peter and Dorothy did over the last forty-five years. My dream was to travel to Findhorn to live. However, between working steadily, raising children, and sending them off to college, it just never happened. I am so pleased that now I am finally able to follow my dream!
The Findhorn community was begun in 1962 by Peter and Eileen Caddy and Dorothy Maclean. Peter decided to start growing vegetables on the land in the seaside village of Findhorn, Scotland. Dorothy discovered she was able to intuitively contact the overlighting spirits of the plants. Peter translated this guidance into action with amazing results. From the barren sandy soil of Findhorn Bay, he grew huge plants, herbs and flowers. Word spread, horticultural experts came and were stunned, and the gardens at Findhorn became famous. Soon this community grew into the Findhorn Foundation, with its work based on the values of planetary service, co-creation with nature and attunement to the divinity within all beings. Their creed is that humanity is engaged in an evolutionary expansion of consciousness, and seek to develop new ways of living infused with spiritual values. In February of 2008 I was pleased to be a participant in a seminar that Dorothy MacLean gave at the Rowe Institure in Rowe. Mass. Click on the Newletter link below for additional information about this warm and wonderful 88 yr. young Lady.
The Findhorn philsophy of expanding and creating Gardens in harmony with nature is very much in attunement to my own beliefs. As you travel through The Garden Goddess website, notice how healthy the plants look. I am justifiably proud of my Garden Installations. People always remark on the lushness of the gardens I design and install. Their comments of the design and installation being true to the site, the shrubs and perennials looking like they have been growing on the site for a while and the general healthiness of the landscaped environment is truly what it is all about. To quote Bill Mollison, a Seeds of Change Author, "There is no mystery nor any great problem in commonsense design systems. It is a matter of bringing to consciousness the essential factors of active planning." In a word observe, observe, observe your Landscape conditions!!
Check out the weekly series link at the www.greenplanetreverence.com website for the published weekly series in 2008-09..
Please do also check out the link for the Coe Memorial Park Botanical Gardens web site at www.coeparkgardens.com You will enjoy seeing how The Garden Goddess, LLC transformed this Park in the heart of Torrington, Ct. to Botanical Gardens of three season beauty and serenity. These Gardens were nominated for an award from The American Horticultural Society. Awards of recognition for the transformation were received from The State of Connecticut and the Torrington Club.
Sincerely,
Gwenythe b. Harvey
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