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Gifts
from the Garden
The purpose of today's article is not to educate you about plant problems or solutions, but to remind and inspire you to take the time to notice and appreciate the wonders all around you. The garden is often taken for granted. Yes, it can be a challenge, a lot of work as well as expense, but let's not forget that the garden is a place of inspiration and delight. Most of us take pride in our gardens, whether we hire a gardener to do the work, or we do the work ourselves. However, many of us do not take the time to really enjoy the subtle beauty and the fascination of nature all around us. I guarantee you'll feel better if you do. Some of the best sights in the garden are found very early in the morning. One of my "gifts," as I call them, was discovering a leaf of a cucumber vine, completely encircled with dewdrops around the edges, glistening like tiny jewels in the early morning sunlight. Another "gift" that a friend saw in her garden was a hummingbird bathing in water that had collected in a cupped leaf of a plant. Most of us have forgotten to care for a plant in the corner of our garden only to discover many months later that the plant has survived and is even blooming. Small discoveries in the garden can really add comfort and delight to your day. A few years ago I commented to my mother how beautiful the blooming dogwood trees were. I told her I hadn't really noticed them in the past, but now I was fascinated with their beauty. She remarked to me that when we are younger we are usually so busy with our families, children, spouses and activities that we don't notice or appreciate the beauty around us. It is usually when we get a little older that we start noticing these things, even though they have always been there. Another garden gift is the joy of picking that first ripe tomato in the summer vegetable garden after much anticipation for its taste. What could be sweeter? And for new gardeners, that first harvest, big or small, can be so rewarding. I think that more of us are gardening because we are rewarded with, not only blossoms and blooms, fruits and vegetables, but hope, encouragement, amazement and perhaps even lower blood pressure. Gardening gives us a chance to forget about our frustrations and worries, and, for our efforts, gives us so much in return. Besides the obvious flowers we all so enjoy, walk through your garden and notice the smells and textures of some of your plants. Take a chair outside, and when you're struck by an especially nice view, sit there and just enjoy it. There are no rules to say that you can only sit under the patio or on the deck. Expand your views and you will be pleasantly surprised that something in your landscape creates an expansive vista for the eye and soul. My friend's father used to sit outside in the patio after dinner, smoke his cigar and listen to the baseball game on the radio. He was always amazed and delighted by the sheer size and grandeur of trees in his neighborhood. Just look at how tall they grow and how robust the trees are just by adding water, he would say with a huge sigh. He appreciated the garden in the twilight sky and while he did the stress of the workday would melt away. A garden, cloaked in green, splashed with pockets of color, is a composition of peace and beauty, and it can bring contentment to our hearts and minds. Each plant in the garden has something unique to offer, so take the time to appreciate their beauty and allow yourself to enjoy the wonders of nature through all of the seasons.
July 11, 2002 |