Like so many people I wanted to do my part on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Since the weather forecast was not so rosy, I looked for another option and found Planet Indy: Gestalt Gardening with Felder Rushing. Irreverent, humorous and knowledgeable, Felder spoke of Horticulture versus Gardening and his gestalt approach to enjoying his own sacred place.

Horticulture is linear, planned, regimented, processed and goes by the book, which is full of Latin. It requires chemicals, weeding, watering, fussing, mowing, trimming, backaches, headaches and heartbreak when plants won’t grow.

Gardening gives people the right to lighten up, be outside the box, plant what they love and what grows naturally, requires low maintenance, little to no watering, weeding, chemicals, mowing or trimming. A true garden is a place of divine beauty as it reflects the spirit of it’s’ owner. The Gardener’s Bill of Rights proclaims:

 You can have as many wind chimes as you can afford to buy
 You are free to miss-pronounce names of plants or not know the names at all
 You are allowed to place clashing colors together just like nature
 You can plant in clumps not rows or plant just one of something
 You are allowed to pronounce the “H” in herb
 You are free to grow NO GRASS AT ALL
 You can create a garden anywhere
 You must accessorize
 You are free to plant Bottle trees – they are beautiful!

Free your garden and yourself by trying something different. Give yourself a sacred place to enjoy. For inspiration visit Felder’s website at http://www.felderrushing.net

Presented by the Indianapolis Museum of Art Planet Indy is a monthly series of guest speakers addressing Sustainability. For more information and future events go to

http://www.imamuseum.org