As I wait to tune in for my virtual interview with Steven Farmer I hear Mockingbird relentlessly calling outside my window. I couldn’t travel to Oregon to meet with Dr. Farmer face-to-face, so instead I drink in the summer imagery that surrounds me.

After a two-hour drive through greater Los Angeles, I arrive at Louesa’s place by way of a steep winding road, strewn with Sticky Monkey Flower and native Sage.

I love my garden. I love spending as much time in it as I possibly can. I love visiting the flowers each day and witnessing their changes, their transformations, in real time.

Behind a facade of warehouses on the outskirts of downtown Napa is a field of soon-to-be flowering trees and native shrubs. Ceanothus, Cherry Plum, and Mustard greet me as old friends, full of the early promises of spring.

As I enter the garden that will be the backdrop for my interview with Heather, I’m immediately transported to paradise. An urban oasis in the middle of downtown Santa Cruz, CA the scent of Jasmine fills the air as my eyes dart from plant to plant, visually inspecting the floral display before me.

Today I’m in my garden in Los Angeles with my very special guest Jessica Hundley. It’s a beautiful evening draped in almost-springtime light with Datura and Poppies blooming and the faint cry of Mourning Doves echoing against the hillside. 

Today I’m met by a glowing woman whose presence is clear, warm, and deeply insightful, even from miles away. As we move into a beautiful flow of wisdom, I forget that we are not sharing the same space. Judith’s depth of knowledge on plant, gemstone, and animal energy shines forth as she speaks so eloquently on the subject of essences.

It’s Saturday in late fall in Los Angeles. Flowers are still in bloom and the sway of palm fronds create a familiar symphony in this city of angels. As I enter the tidy and visually pleasing home of my dear friends Iman and Olivia, I’m greeted with a warm welcome and led to the floor cushions that surround the smooth olive wood tea table.

The clamor of the waves crashing against rocks echoes as the scent of ocean wafts through the garden. I’m surrounded by verdant trees and not-too withered flowers, which shouldn’t be hanging on as long in this approaching winter blush.

Today I’m in Santa Barbara, CA in the garden of Cynthia James. Cynthia is a visual artist who works with oil paint to portray nature in a magical realist style. She spent 20 years living in Tulum, Mexico when it was still a remote jungle village. 

Griffith Park Bird Sanctuary is an oddly hidden trail, right off the busy drive leading up to the Observatory. A chain link fence surrounding this protected area, denotes a “keep out” flavor that makes it all the more exciting to traverse. I notice a luscious Bird-Of-Paradise stand, towering near the trail entrance, which strikes a chord of irony in me. 

A winding road leads me to an urban oasis in the Oakland Hills, called Huckleberry Botanic Preserve. The name sounds like jam and when I arrive and peek over the edge of the forest from the parking lot, the sweetness surely envelops me. Fresh from a cleansing rain, the multi-toned green Lichen sparkles in the breeze, its scent intoxicating.

Standing before a set of deep, pastel-colored bowls, Dina Saalisi begins at the base, using a small wooden mallet to bring a low hum from the basin. It’s a C chord, the foundation. With the twirl of her wrist, eyes lowered, she turns to a shallower bowl to draw out an A chord for the “third eye,” or intuition. The sound playfully rings through the room, nearly fading before she sprinkles a third sound, a bright F chord, on top for the “heart chakra.”

Flowers offer a delight for the senses, with their delicious fragrances, glorious colors, and beautiful forms. A manifestation of nature’s magnificence, their presence contributes to personal wellbeing by simply appearing before us.

Flowers offer a delight for the senses, with their delicious fragrances, glorious colors, and beautiful forms. A manifestation of nature’s magnificence, their presence contributes to personal wellbeing by simply appearing before us.

Working with the energy of flowers is my passion. Through the years I’ve learned to listen carefully to the 38 Bach flower remedies, and to receive their messages as medicine. As a Holistic Healer, I recognize the power that lies in being able to shift negative thought patterns and limiting beliefs, through inspiring language.

It’s been a heck of a rainy season here in L.A. Something we’re not quite used to. The chill finally set in, and the golden glow is shrouded by thick clouds heavy with damp. I take baths, wear sweaters and lately my favorite thing to eat is spicy red mustard greens, one of my winter faves.

As a child, I experienced traumatic events that left me struggling with their after-effects for years. During my teenage years, I turned to unhealthy relationships and self-destructive behaviors, such as drug abuse and neglecting my own well-being, in an attempt to cope with the pain.

Rock Water remedy is about letting go of the high ideals we place upon ourselves. One of the things I notice about the Rock Water challenge is that, at worst, there’s a rigidity that unintentionally exudes a sense of superiority.

Most of us can relate to challenges of the mind, whether the trouble is too many thoughts, or too little focus, we feel ill at ease when our thinking faculties are out of balance. When I reflect on the indications for each Bach Chestnut flower remedy, I recognize the unique ways in which they work to transform challenging thought patterns.