Nature is a wise teacher. And if you are present enough, you can learn a thing or two about life. This is why I decided to create my Garden Talk series. It is where I bring stories about the different plants I am currently journeying with this season and all that I am learning about myself and life during the process.
Most recently, my hibiscus plant has been schooling me about patience. Growing hibiscus is truly a journey. I planted my baby hibiscus in May without any prior knowledge or experience. I naively thought that the flowers would bloom and calyxes would form in the peak of the summer. Ha! It actually takes a full six months for the fruit of the flower to mature.
Growing hibiscus is also teaching my longtime friend
about patience as well as gentleness. This past Saturday, I had the pleasure to chat with Qubilah about her journey with the beloved flower for my second installment of my Garden Talk audio series. Qubilah is a fellow herbalist, gardener, and writer. She is founder of The Holistic Agenda and , a place where Black women get to receive actionable advice on how to do more of what feeds their soul.
Hibiscus Sabdariffa, also known as roselle and sorrel, among many other names, is a powerful plant that Qubilah and I are both drawn to. In this episode, you will hear us refer to hibiscus by its various names. Also, we discuss Qubilah’s call to return back to land, her pursuit in personal wellness and community care, and the ancestral medicine that Hibiscus provides. At the conclusion of our conversation, Qubilah and I shared two songs that exemplify our walks with hibiscus. Listen until the end to hear why we chose these songs.
Qubilah’s choice: Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness
My choice: Happy Survival by Childish Gambino featuring Khruangbin
I had such a fun time talking with my friend about the stunning hibiscus. Gratitude to Qubilah for saying yes and becoming my very first guest at A Cup of Tea & Jams! Yall are in for a treat! The transcript is available to read on the web version of the publication in the upper right corner under the title of the article.
To stay in touch with all of the cool things Qubilah is up to, be sure to subscribe to her publication,
and follow her on IG @qubilahsays. Also, if you live in the DMV area, she is leading two upcoming herbal workshops! See the flyer below for more information and register via here.
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