EVERYTHING, HERE AND NOW by Kenneth Santiago

Darkness. Emptiness. Roots. Ground.

There is nothing but darkness within the damp, cold ground. Slivers of light seep through the smallest cracks of the soil, balancing the warmth and coolness for the seeds to take root. As the days go by, a fair amount of rain and sunshine has nourished the roots to grow. From seeing nothing but the ground on the surface, green small leaves start sprouting from the ground as the smallest organisms and critters crawl around.

Human touch. Intellect. Observance. Care

Growth happens when one least expects it. What once was seed from the ground now either grows taller or withers when not nurtured. Thus, the human intellect and observance on the development of plants aided further thriving. Yet, even without the help of mankind, nature has its ways to thrive on its own. Like a person, a whole ecosystem works by themselves even prior to human knowledge. Before scientific developments and research, nature has been flourishing even without human assistance. This growth happens in the quiet and secrecy of the elements working together. And sometimes, what humans tend to care for ends up getting destroyed by the same hands that try to keep it.

Seasons. Surroundings. Spaces. Symbiosis.

The plants that have grown now change through the seasons — the green leaves that dry up and change their colors when the weather becomes dry and hot; the flowers that bloom and the fruits that ripen at the right time; and some that tumble down whenever the winds become too harsh. The fallen leaves that are left scattered on the ground tell stories about where they came from. Each experience happens in their own spaces, where they have taken root and chosen to grow in. The living organisms and critters, both crawling and flying, have taken part for the plants’ nourishment or end.

Balance. Introspection. Presence. Reflection.

In the continuation of this life cycle is the garden of diversity. Various plants now come into view, many new colors pop out of their stems, and a multitude of organisms join the flourishing surroundings. In the midst of the diversity is a balance that keeps everything alive. This is now where the gardener stands – in appreciation of every little thing that comes to exist from their viewpoint. The leaves, flowers, landscapes, and creatures – every small, mundane thing that took responsibility for this growth has become the worth of each reflection. After the toil, the gardener finds themself in a garden of their own doing. And this is what gardens are made of.

– Tricia Caisip

“And, suddenly, the flower emerges not as this pretty object to be admired, but as this ravishing system of aliveness — a kind of silent symphony of interconnected resilience.” – Maria Popova on The Birth of Ecology: Ernst Haeckel, Emily Dickinson, and How Life on Earth Came Abloom, 2022