May 13, 2005
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"Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward, bend to the winds of heaven, and learn tranquility."
Dedication to Richard St. Barbe Baker, Father Of The Trees
While nestled in my upstairs window seat it feels like you are in the trees!
Sowing the seed,
my hand is one with the earth.
Wanting the seed to grow,
my mind is one with the light.
Hoeing the crop,
my hands are one with the rain.
Having cared for the plants,
my mind is one with the air.
Hungry and trusting,
my mind is one with the earth.
Eating the fruit,
my body is one with the earth.
Wendell Berry
Whenever I have feel in need of regaining balance and inner peace I look to nature. Water and trees in particular have always called to my heart. I am now blessed in that I live mere minutes away from Lake Ontario and am very close to Lake Scugog and other beautiful bodies of water. I am also blessed in that I am now surrounded by trees.
Because this is an older neighbourhood there are trees everywhere. Not skinny little sticks awaiting adulthood, but mature, wise, thick, gnarled old trees full of history and life.
In my own particular yard I have 6 trees, five of which are blossoming and fruit bearing. Not only do I get to enjoy the company of these trees, I also get to enjoy their fragrant springtime bouquet and later in the season the "fruits" of their labour.
Here is the "secret garden" looking toward the back of my home. My yard is cut in two parts. One is patio, grape vines and rockery, the other fruit trees, berries and grass. This is the first pear tree.
Here is the second pear tree at the very back of my yard.
the "rockery". the mulberry tree and crabapple tree are alongside it. birdfeeders along the fence.
the grape trellis and the secret garden gate. my three concrete birds stand guard.
"Emmett" also stands guard, and a little friend in the white flowers behind him.
Tending a garden is a true labour of love. I have placed my "gargoyles" and hung my bird feeders. I have started to clear away the debris left by the previous season. Tulips and paper-whites and daffodils are thriving. Berry canes are turning green and sprouting leaves. A sensation of growth and life is running rampant. Today is cool and the wind is blowing off the lake. I can have a cup of coffee and step outside into all this beauty, the care of which has been placed into my hands and feel tranquil and truly blessed.
Comments (3)
Wendell Berry really put my own feelings into his words about gardening and sowing and reaping. When I lived with my dad for 5 years I spent 4 years of those springs and summers doing all of the garden with the guidance of my dad and now exstepmother. Gardening turned out to be a love I will do even in the night when I can't sleep and it's warm enough outside. They also saw potential in me and exploding energy needing redirection. Luckily they redirected me into this one area that I actually enjoyed. Thanks for sharing this insight into gardening. It just helped me have insight into my beginning of love for gardening, dirt, planting, etc.
LOVE your gargoyles!
The big concrete birds are my pride and joy, they also weigh a ton! I like having them on guard though!!
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