Healing Gardens

Lauren McPhun

Creation Story

The fire work display of Maples in the fall gave the world one last glimpse of passion, fury, wonder and awe before the long return to the dark slumber of winter. All creatures, humans, plants and animals alike looked forward to the Big Leaf Maples revival- it gave them all a great sense of joy to see the bright oranges and reds of the maples crinkly coat. The animals used the fallen leaves for shelter the plants too used the dead fall as a warm blanket to keep their roots sheltered from the bitter cold. However, one problem had persisted for the Big Leaf Maple. Each winter her trunk had become so frost bitten that she could barely save enough energy to stay alive through the long winters and into the spring. The plants and animals noticed her sparse leaves and sagging branches when spring came and asked what was causing her lack of vigor- for it was spring after all when most of the plants and animals dusted off their winter shells and broke out into fancy colors and extravagant headdresses to celebrate the return of the sun. The maple was a little embarrassed around her sturdy evergreen friends- the winters were no problems for them. Humbly she had said she has not developed thick enough root systems and trunk to stay healthy during the cold season. Worried for the maple, the

Forest gathered together to discuss what to do. Finally a small fern spoke quietly. So quietly, she was asked to repeat herself.

"I said... I will protect her" said the Fern.

The towering Western Red cedar responded “But how can you do that for you are so small?"

"I can climb on top of her and spread out up and down, digging my roots into her nooks and crannies" said the little, delicate licorice fern.

"Oh yes that right" said a human “we use her roots for bee stings and other skin things, even inflamed organs... Perhaps the Big Leaf Maple will like her help to take the sting of winter out of her bones and act like a blanket during the coldest times.”

The Licorice Ferns climbed onto the trunks of the maples and began to set their roots. By the time winter had come the Ferns had learned how to hold on tight- the snow, rain, and wind could not deter them.

Next Spring, the plants and animals could tell the Licorice Fern and the Big Leafed maple had been beneficial for one another. The Licorice Fern had kept the maple warm enough through those old long nights, nurturing her ailments and her wintry bites with her cooling medicinal properties. Today we see the Big Leaf Maple and the Licorice Fern together still.