Garden Wisdom

The poppies have gone by.  The iris are fading and the peonies are in full bloom.  The garden changes every day.

 I have a morning ritual in which I walk around the garden in my robe, with a cup of coffee, to say hello to the girls who are blooming and to say goodbye to those who are departing.    Imagine that four months ago snow covered these little darlings.  I anticipate each day as the snow recedes and the snow drop and crocus flowers appear. Now we are deep in the heart of garden season, anticipating summer.  Showers feed the bean seeds and new tomato plants encouraging the fruit which will delight us in August.  For gardeners, the anticipation is as good as the actual fulfillment of the sight, smell and taste of the garden fruits.

This week as I walked with garden shears, I pondered which peonies to leave to view from the window and which to cut to bring inside to enjoy.  The bouquet on the dining room table is overflowing and with fragrance that permeates each room of the house. I gaze at the flowers inside and out and I try to drink in all of their beauty as I appreciate that they will only be in full bloom for a short time.

My joy and my sadness commingle, because I know that the same is true for me and all those I love.  We come and we bloom and we fade.  As a Christian, I know that there is another life beyond this with Christ and with all the saints.  Perhaps it is the like the winter passing into a spring fully blazing with beautiful colorful flowers. Perhaps it is a place of joy and delight where in the presence of the risen Christ, the flowers and the friends never fade. 

Blessings, Karen