By Linda Wiggen Kraft
September is the month when our gardens begin finishing up their growing season. Most Septembers share the Fall Equinox and Harvest Moon. In 2020, the Fall Equinox takes place on Sept. 22nd and the Harvest Moon falls on Oct. 1st. There are ten days between the Fall Equinox and Harvest Moon. Let these ten days be a special time of honoring the sun and moon, and this year’s garden gifts.
On September 22, the light of day equals the time of night. Fall officially begins and summer ends. This is a day of balance and a perfect time to celebrate the beauty and bounty of this year’s garden.
In this time of Covid-19 our gardens have been more important and precious than ever. Gardens have given us food for our souls, showing us the beauty of nature when so little seems beautiful in the hearts of many and many have perished in this 21st century plague. Gardens have given us food for our bodies when the uncertainty of how we would be fed was on our minds.
Fall Equinox officially begins at 8:31 am Central Daylight Time, Sept. 22nd. Spend some time outside during this morning, acknowledging and giving heartfelt thanks to your garden. Let the plants know how much they have given you in their growing. Be thankful for the sun light that is needed for gardens to grow. Let this time between Fall Equinox and Harvest Moon be a time to also think of the balance of sun energy and moon energy. The balance of male and female energy.
The equinox is a time of awareness of the sun’s energy and its waning light. The sun is yang, or male, energy. Sunlight isn’t the only light shining on our gardens though. The moon also influences the garden by its light and pull of water. The moon is yin, female energy, in all of its moon phases. The tides of the oceans, and water in the garden’s plants and soil are influenced by the moon each minute of the day. Gardening and harvesting by the moon are ancient practices still used by many gardeners. As the moon waxes and grows lighter, those plants grown for above ground foliage and flowers respond to that light. As the moon wanes and grows darker, those plants grown for their roots respond to the darker phase of the moon. Harvest Moon is the name of the full moon closest to the Fall Equinox. Its name comes from its gift of light that provides extra light during harvest time. It shines down on Oct. 1st.
Bring closure to this ten-day celebration of Fall Equinox and Harvest Moon by spending time outside under the evening light of the Harvest Moon. Sunset takes place at 6:44 pm and Moonrise at 7:03 pm. Enjoy the light of this full moon and be thankful for the moon’s energy in all its phases, from darkest new moon to brightest full moon. Honor the balance and need for both sun and moon and their male and female energies that nourish our gardens and all life on our planet.
Linda Wiggen Kraft is a landscape designer who creates holistic and organic gardens. She offers Creativity Journeys, Mandala and Nature Journey workshops.
More info is at her website and blog at: www.CreativityForTheSoul.com Call her at 314 504-4266.