The tree was the first thing I saw; magnificent limbs stretched across the yard in all directions. The house was built in 1920 on an acre of land with a few apple trees and an old chicken coop; perfect for a future potting shed. I saw the potential of what it could become. I knew…
“When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden.” ~ Minnie Aumonier
I recently found this quote on one of my favorite garden sites and loved the ending: Always the garden because it is the title of my blog. Why did I choose Always the Garden to be the title of my blog? Because when the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy my garden is always…
Silent Sunday Viburnum carlesii
Spring
I write And capture moments in time To remember. Lest I forget. Winter garden. 2024 It always amazes me how the garden looks in winter. Remnants of Lavender, Russian Sage, Sedum Autumn Joy, and Bobo Hydrangea still standing, other herbaceous perennials asleep underground. During fall cleanup I left leaf litter and small fallen branches as…
“Each kindness makes the whole world a little better.”
"Chloe doesn't really know why she turns away from the new girl, Maya, when Maya tries to befriend her. And every time Maya asks if she can play with Chloe and the other girls, the answer is always no. So Maya ends up playing alone." So begins the beautiful, poignant picture book: Each Kindness. Why…
Moments of Wonder
Turn off the news. Silence the turmoil. Slow my beating heart. Find refuge in the beating heart of the garden. A sense of calmness. The musical songs of trilling birds. And the delicacy of winged visitors. Let the mesmerizing rose scents rekindle memories. Feel the velvety leaves of Lambs Ears. And breathe in the calming…
Hummingbirds
"Daily he appears; His buzzing flight alerts me, Stirs my sense of wonder." ~ Linda C. Seifried A flash of iridescence. Wings that beat at lightening speed. Hummingbirds can fly forward, straight up and down, sideways and backward. They hover using bills that are long and slender making it possible for them to get sweet…
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
I was in awe when I saw this spider on my Hydrangea bush. I thought is was beautiful. About two inches in size with bright yellow and black markings made of thick hair that looked like velvet. It's an orb-weaving arachnid. The spider makes a protein fiber called spider silk and uses it to spin…
My Potting Shed
"No worries", I told my husband when we moved into our new home. "There's plenty of room for my gardening paraphernalia in this garage." I claimed a corner, and added some old crates; eventually those crates were buried under a varied amount of essential necessities for work in the garden: hand trowels, pruning shears, an…
“If you have a Garden and a Library, you have everything you need.” ~Marcus Tullius Cicero
Our mild winter ended when biting cold temperatures caught a ride on gusty winds and held fast. Yes. Winter is here. Cocooned, safe from the elements. Enjoying the solitude winter brings. My garden sleeps except for the beautiful Hellebores blooming in the depths of winter. I sit in my sunroom overlooking one of my favorite…