High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – The aesthetics of cottagecore, bloomcore, and cluttercore

By Janet Sellers

“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”—Kahlil Gabran

Cottagecore is an internet sensation that romanticizes the dream of a simplified, natural, rural way of life. Eschewing electronics for positive habits, a favorite version is the bloomcore, with beautiful botanicals. It is about escape from screens and stressors and renewing our souls via respecting nature through the daydreamy aesthetic of Regency-era country life (as in Jane Austen’s book, Emma). But the cottagecore aesthetic has been around for at least 2,300 years, dating back to the ancient Greek countryside, popularized on our social media in the past few years. Perhaps cottagecore should be called the Emma aesthetic.

While cottagecore and bloomcore may be more formal in nature, there is also cluttercore. The art of cluttercore achieves an “organized mess that feels like a big hug.” With luck and help, I “cluttercore” mow the grass around flower berms. Putting the settee in the pink shade of the crabapple tree, we listen to spring peeper frogs belt out their songs. To our cat’s amusement—or possibly dismay—we can hear but never find them. Iris and poppies appear in May and June, but the yellow, white, and purple asters don’t get going until July and August. Yardwork is also busy with plucking last year’s lanky stems of the purple blooming Russian sage (salvia yangii).

Ponderosa pine benefits

Our native Colorado springtime bursts in wildflower glory every year, including the positive benefits of our ponderosa pine blooming season. Contrary to popular belief, the pine pollen is a valuable resource. Ponderosa pine pollen has been used historically as an adaptogenic tonic that can help balance hormones, boost immunity, and increase endurance. It can also make the body more resilient to daily stressors, strengthen vital organs, facilitate anti-aging and support a healthy balanced immune system. Many think that their spring allergies are from that yellow dust that gets all over everything in June, but there are multiple pollens exploding into our air then, so we can’t blame just the pines. My dry salt inhaler works wonders for clearing my hay fever symptoms.

Pine needles necessary for pine tree health

Pine needles, as they decompose into soil, supply necessary nutrients for our pine trees to thrive. Ill-informed sources propose myths, but pine needles are acid neutral as soon as they lose the green color and make great garden mulch that knits itself together and stays put in snow, rain, and wind. Pine needles become nutrient-rich soil after a year. Even a 2-3-inch depth helps the ponderosa trees and the garden, according to the fire mitigation expert I spoke with from our local fire district who uses them in his gardens.

Janet Sellers is an avid “lazy gardening” enthusiast, letting Mother Nature lead the gardening wisdom that supports the Tri-Lakes high desert ecosystem. Share your garden tips and stories. JanetSellers@ocn.me

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