Behold the Holy Earthworm

The other day, I was replacing an old, tired geranium that had been in a five gallon terra cotta pot with a new vibrant foxglove called "Illuminata". Now, don't get me wrong, I paid deep homage and gratitude to the geranium that had given me years of beautiful blooms, and proceeded to take a cutting of it to root and start a new plant. Geraniums, by the way, have a wonderful reputation of being one of the easiest plants to root from cuttings.

As I was digging out the black, moist soil from the pot, I was delighted to find incredibly large, healthy earthworms. When is the last time that you looked closely at an earthworm, let alone a large healthy one? Have you ever noticed the opalescent sheen of their moist skin? Have you ever wondered about their miraculous ability to recycle the raw material of dead leaves and decaying matter into rich, nutrient dense soil? Earthworms are one of nature's hidden miracles. All the work they do is underground and invisible to our view, unless we happen to be digging in our garden and are blessed with a sighting!

As earthworms move, they leave channels that aerate and loosen the soil, which in turn helps with drainage and root development of plants. Not only are they like nature's roto tillers, but also like nature's fertilizing machines. As the material that they eat passes through their body, the waste material becomes what is known as "worm castings". Worm castings are an incredibly rich source of nutrients for the soil and the plants that grow there. Where you find earthworms is where you find happy soil and healthy plants.

So, the next time you come across an earthworm in your garden, or if you are lucky, more than one, give thanks and pay homage to the holy earthworm for all the unseen benefit that it is freely offering!