Mary Oliver is my favorite poet. An imaginative and reserved nature-lover, she spent many happy hours, notebook in hand, pondering the world through quiet observation of the trees and animals that surrounded her.
Like me, Oliver wasn’t much for the spotlight. She let her writing speak for her and it earned her great recognition. She’s a recipient of both the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the National Book Award, winning numerous other awards and honors throughout her whole life.
Oliver passed away earlier this year, but the over 30 poetry collections and works of non-fiction she published leave a legacy that will not soon be forgotten. Of her collections, A Thousand Mornings, Devotion, and House of Light (from which this poem is taken) are three of my favorite.
The Summer Day Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean- the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down- who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away. I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
Have you read any of Oliver’s poems? Which poets are your favorite? I’m always looking to add to my collection!
“Macrame” is a term I only learned a few years ago. Or perhaps that was simply the time in my life when I decided to investigate it further. Despite having first pronounced it “mah-CRAME”, I soon learned both how to say it correctly and what it was all about. It changed my life.
Well, not literally, of course, but it did provide an outlet for my creativity that not only involved a level of strategy but my love for plants as well! Win-win. Learning how to tie macrame knots is the most difficult part of this project. If you feel stuck, head over to YouTube and watch some tutorials. Or, experiment on your own. After all, every knot you tie can be taken out and redone!
If you follow along closely with my tutorial, the measurements I’ve made fit a 5in diameter pot. The length of your cords will depend on how many knots you want to tie and the size of your potted plant. The best part about making your own macrame plant hanger is that there’s no limit to the styles, lengths, or variations of the knots you choose, so you have the freedom to be creative!
For a little inspiration, and to see how to tie certain knots, check out this video. Ready to get creative? You’ll need the following supplies:
3mm natural cotton cord
2in stainless steel ring
Scissors
Scotch tape
Tape measure
Potted plant
Preparation Cut your cords as follows: 8 cords cut to 10ft each; 1 cord cut to 6ft; and 2 cords cut to 3ft each. Bundle all 10ft cords, then loop them through the ring to where they fold at their midpoint. Looped, you should have 16 cords hanging at 5ft in length. Tape a few inches below the loop.
1. Secure the Loop Cover the ring with the 6ft cord using a buttonhole clasp knot. Continue tying this knot until it circles the ring, with the eight looped cords hiding these starting and ending cords. Now, using one of your 3ft cords, secure the looped cords (including the leftover cords from your clasp knot) with a wrapped knot.
2. Tie Grouped Knots Separate cords into four groups of four. Tie a set of square knots down each group of four cords, alternating between one right square knot and one left square knot until 5in long. About 5in below your first row, tie a set of spiral stitch knots until they reach 3in long. Eight inches below, add another set of square knots 3in in length.
3. Connect the Cord Groups Three inches below the last knot group, take the far right strand of the first group and tie a barrel knot with the far left strand of the second group. Repeat between the second and third groups until the four original groups have been tired together. Test exact lengths by holding your pot inside this basket of knots. Adjust lengths accordingly.
4. Secure the Hanger Base Using your last 3ft cord, tie a wrapped knot 3in below the barrel knots (or about 6in below the last square knot group). When the knot is secured, trim the remaining cords to 4in and run your fingers through them until they separate. Now, gently place your pot back inside the “tube” of cords until its resting in the basket. You’re done!
Still trying to grasp how to tie each knot? Ready to try making a macrame plant hanger for yourself? I’d love to hear your comments and answer your questions! Happy crafting!
It’s evident that at some point in my life, specifically where plants are concerned, I crossed the threshold from casual acquaintanceship into full-fledged obsession. You could say they just kind of grew on me.
But more so, I realized plants provide an outlet for me to feed my nurturing side and my creativity, without being intrusive or demanding. I’ve clearly tapped into the emotional side of being a plant mama, but there’s actual scientific evidence about how plants can make you happier and healthier. Here’s what we know so far:
Plants Purify the Air You may already know this one, but having plants around your home has greater benefits than simply adding an aesthetic touch. The friendly folks at NASA, in their Clean Air Study, found that the presence of greenery in homes and offices removed such toxins as ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air. Those are all fancy words for chemicals that lurk in common household items like printing ink, paper towel, detergent, and window cleaner. Plants gather these toxic fumes through their roots and leaves, breaking them down into byproducts they can use as food later. What does that leave us? Purer, healthier air to breathe. Not a bad trade-off.
Plants Reduce Stress Many people, including myself, feel naturally drawn to the calming effects of nature. More research is now surfacing that speaks to both the physiological and psychological benefits of keeping plants around your home or workspace. In fact, interacting with plants on a regular basis can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, while improving mood and relaxation. (Think of it as the coveted endorphin rush, but without having to wheeze through a 3-mile run.) As someone who struggles with anxiety, immersion in nature has an almost instantaneously positive effect on my emotional state. I’ve also found that the routine nurturing of plants provides a much-needed respite from the stress of everyday life.
Plants Boost Cognitive Skills Struggling to concentrate or be productive? Buy a plant! Studies conducted by Exeter University in the UK and Texas A&M here concluded that flowers and potted plants boosted creativity and problem-solving skills. Even the University of Michigan is getting the dirt on the benefits of plants, including how nature can have a profound effect on memory and even improve attention spans, with results similar to those you’d get from meditating. A walk in the park and a consequential boost in memory retention sounds a lot more enjoyable than completing a sudoku. But then again, numbers really aren’t my thing. Perhaps I should try meditating again … but maybe in a room full of plants this time.
Plants Help You Heal While we already know the emotional healing plants provide, they’re also pros at accelerating physical healing, too. The concept of horticultural therapy is centuries old, but there’s a reason it has been gaining more recognition in recent years. The emotional and cognitive benefits of plants naturally create a better healing environment within our physical bodies. In fact, it’s recommended that potted greenery and flowers adorn the windowsills in hospital rooms of patients who’ve recently undergone surgery. Who wouldn’t want significantly reduced anxiety, pain, and fatigue as they recover? Best of all, therapeutic plantlife is inexpensive and noninvasive, providing significant health benefits for the minimal maintenance they require. Hospital gift shops have already figured this out, of course.
Plants Improve Mindfulness Most houseplants need very little attention or affection (though I do think carrying on conversations with your plants is perfectly acceptable and perhaps even recommended). However, the mere act of tending to and nurturing a living thing can take focus from ourselves and transition it into gentle, purposeful care of something else. In fact, literally getting your hands dirty in microbiome-rich potting soil can be good for our immune system and can have antidepressive effects. As if that weren’t enough, more studies suggest that being in the midst of nature can foster better connections with people and kinder feelings toward others. Is it time to gift a plant to a not-so-friendly coworker or neighbor? Possibly.
Plant Care Is Self Care I truly believe that caring for plants can positively impact people, in more ways than one! Do you agree with the scientific discoveries, or are you still skeptical? I’m curious to hear your opinion!
