Charlson Meadows

Territorial Seed sent us a gift that is multiplying in our garden!
With this seed donation, our Giving Garden is helping us share produce with our neighbors through our local food shelves. We were even able to share some seeds with guests at a recent Reflective Walk event.
Come visit Charlson Meadows and see what is growing in the Giving Garden! See the website for our upcoming events.

We depend on the sun for life. We don't get any say in how it shows up each day, but we do have the power to choose how we show up to meet it. Every day, the sun is faithfully shining, even when hidden behind storm clouds. It continues to offer warmth and light whether we notice it or not. Here in Minnesota, these sunny spring days feel especially precious. The landscape transforms so quickly. Over the course of May, we have gone from bare branches to a canopy of fresh green leaves stretching along the trail and the early bloomers have already faded.

Nature Doesn't Wait

This spring, there were several blooms I hoped to capture for a newsletter photo. I kept waiting for the perfect combination of blue sky, sunshine, and timing. Before it arrived, those early blossoms had already faded. Nature offered me a gentle reminder: beauty doesn't need perfect conditions to be appreciated.

Meeting the Day

We can't control the forecast. We will encounter cloudy days, unexpected storms, and moments when conditions are less than ideal. Yet growth is still possible. Joy is still available and beauty is still present. The sun will rise again tomorrow, but today's light is a gift that will never come again.

Take it to Heart:

Find a spot to sit in the early morning and appreciate whatever weather you have.

Reminisce about favorite memories that involve sunshine.

Open Up
It would be easy to walk right past these quiet beginnings. Guests on our April Reflective Walk were encouraged to bend down and open up space where they noticed signs of growth on the Life Journey Trail. When we pause and gently push aside the leaves, we discover what was hidden. There could be tiny shoots, perhaps even a delicate bloom. All signs of growth teem with potential.

Opening up doesn’t require force. It can be a gentle act. We could release something that has been burdening us, choose a hopeful outlook, or make just enough room for something new to grow. This season, the invitation is simple: open up, even a little. Notice what is already beginning. And trust that, with care and space, new beginnings are here.

We invite you to come wander at our monthly Reflective Walks. Each session offers time to visit the Life Journey Trail at your own pace. We provide a series of reflective prompts, a breathing practice, and often a little activity in the woods, all based on a theme. Kim and Nicole will be there to greet you at the Chalet. Register at CharlsonMeadows.org

Let us introduce you to Green Card Voices
Green Card Voices is dedicated to building inclusive and integrated communities between immigrants and their neighbors through multimedia storytelling. Over their recent weekend, they gathered staff, current and past board members, community partners, and funders for a much-needed time of connection. They worked on their strategic plan and still made time to greet the chickens and walk the land.
Learn more about Greencard Voices on their website: https://www.greencardvoices.org

Our Giving Garden grows food for local food shelves. Seed Savers Exchange gave us a wide variety of seeds to get the garden growing!

There is a lot of beauty to celebrate on Earth Day!

Do you have rest scheduled? When you look ahead at your calendar, do you have the breathing room your heart requires? Your heart is a good investment.

Moving Forward

Spring doesn’t arrive all at once. The daylight lingers a little longer, the robins return from their travels, and buds begin to form on the tips of the trees. Even knowing that storms will bring rain or even a late snowfall, nature continues to move forward.

As we watch, the landscape slowly comes back to life. The conditions aren’t always perfect, but still, nature moves forward. Spring includes both stunning blue skies and thunderstorms. Growth depends on it. Our own growth often unfolds in times of uncertainty. It can be slow, steady, and imperfect.

Growth doesn’t wait for everything to be ideal. It simply begins and continues one small movement at a time. Soon, warmth will settle in, and the trees will be full. In life, it often works the same way. Small steps, imperfect conditions, and unexpected turns still move us forward. Growth is our reward for weathering the storms!

Take it to Heart
Take a lingering walk to watch for spring’s arrival.
Consider what is helping you move forward in this season. What are you choosing to move towards? What are you choosing to leave behind?
Select a spot that you can observe daily over the next few weeks. Take note of the details in this transition time.

When you invest in yourself, others will enjoy the overflow! This weekend, our guests will be tending to their hearts during the Fill Your Cup Retreat.
We are thrilled to have the Nancy Nelson Lake House all put back together after the frozen pipe issue in January!