I was asked to give a talk in early June and I chose the title of “How does your garden grow?” I absolutely love spring and wanted to talk about the strong emotional and spiritual resource nature provides us. For many of us, nature is as close as a house plant or a pet. Or our encounter can be as epic as a trip to the Grand Canyon or other amazing natural wonders. However you meet the natural world, it is almost guaranteed to be healing. Below is some information I shared in that talk.
A few years back, I learned that President Lincoln had a summer home, now a historic site called President Lincoln’s Cottage, where he retreated during the hot months in Washington, DC. It was about a 3 mile horseback ride from the White House and located in the NW corner of the District of Columbia. One of my favorite things to do is visit historical places so I placed this on my bucket list and was able to pay a visit in the fall of 2021. What I expected was to tour an interesting old home and maybe learn a few more facts about Lincoln. What I didn’t expect was to be taken on a guided walk through what is called “Lincoln’s Wild Home.”
When you arrive at Lincoln’s cottage, you can opt for downloading your own walking tour where you take a guided meditative walk over the outdoor portions of the site. A nature and forest therapy guide, Melanie Choukas-Bradley, influenced the design of the program which was excellent. She talks about how a wild home is a natural environment near where you live where you can go often and develop a deep and intimate relationship. I wonder if some of you are like the Lincolns and have a wild home nearby.
President Lincoln’s Cottage is on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (which is still active), as well as, near the Soldier’s Home National cemetery. There are more than 5,300 Civil War soldiers buried there and now there are more than 12,000 veterans buried at this active cemetery. During Lincoln’s time, there were soldiers buried there daily just a couple hundred yards north of the cottage where he lived. What a daily reminder of the toll of war.
Lincoln Spent 13 of the 50 months he was president at the cottage – generally between the months of June and November.
Each morning Lincoln commuted by horseback from the quiet of the hillside cottage to the White House and back again to the quiet of the cottage each evening.
According to the walking tour, Lincoln developed the Emancipation Proclamation while at this hilltop location which is now administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Lincoln family’s first stay was the Summer of 1862 after their 11 year old son Willie’s death and in the midst of the Civil War. The tour guide shared that Mary Todd Lincoln stated that “When we are in sorrow, quiet is very necessary to us.”
Nature is a balm during difficult times. I hope that you will continue to visit or establish a “wild home” to serve as a balm during difficult times during your life. Cultivate your inner garden this July. You’ll be richer for it.