“The day before April
Alone, alone,
I walked in the woods
And sat on a stone.
I sat on a broad stone
And sang to the birds.
The tune was God’s making
But I made the words.”
–Mary Carolyn Davies
Well-planted boulders add structure and beauty to a garden; they can also serve practical purposes as splash pads for water features, seats for contemplation, tables for eating, and natural playground equipment for climbing and exploration. Can we plant some rocks in your garden?
Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World,
With the wonderful water round you curled,
And the wonderful grass upon your breast–
World, you are beautifully dressed.
The wonderful air is over me,
And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree,
It walks on the water, and whirls the mills,
And talks to itself on the tops of the hills.
You friendly Earth! How far do you go,
With the wheat-fields that nod and the rivers that flow,
With cities and gardens, and cliffs, and isles,
And people upon you for thousands of miles?
Ah, you are so great, and I am so small,
I tremble to think of you, World, at all;
And yet, when I said my prayers to-day,
A whisper inside me seemed to say,
“You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot:
You can love and think, and the Earth cannot!”
~ William Brighty Rands
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& grateful grandma!)
(Poem from my first “Childcraft” poem book)
Wherever you find yourself this spring, I hope you take time to seek the wonder and beauty to be found in God’s garden–the great outdoors!
. . . quickly fly the years.
One season following another,
laden with happiness and tears.
~ Sheldon Harnick and Lewis Bock Jerrold, from Fiddler on the Roof (musical)
Gratefully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& grateful daily “grace gift” recipient)
Sunrise and sunset over our back patio, grand reminders that I take time to still my racing soul and savor the grace and glory all around me.
“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” ~ Greek proverb
Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& grateful my “old man” realized this early)
James began planting trees on our property almost as soon as we moved into our home 22 years ago. Now, we are enjoying the rewards of his early action: a Dawn Redwood cathedral that towers above us, a Cryptomeria and Green Giant fencerow that provides shelter for a myriad of feathered friends, and a Pine grove where our grandchildren will soon be able to camp out (post-Covid!!). Healthy, well-maintained trees increase in value and beauty as they grow, adding grandeur and grace to any landscape.
The garden is a perfect place where God’s creativity and our creativity meet.
~ Bruxy Cavey, Canadian pastor and author
A garden is where the first humans experienced joy, responsibility and the rewards of meaningful work. They were not placed in a jungle, where everything is up to nature, or in a city, where everything reflects human creativity. Rather, they were given the privilege of tending a garden in partnership with God and nature, to bring forth beauty, life and joy. (Thoughts taken from Bruxy Cavey’s sermon, January 17, 2021)
Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& garden joy-taker)
With children in far-flung locations across the continent, we have experienced beauty in a variety of topographies over the years: the arid, Pine-covered sierras and rocky coves of Southern California; the awe-inspiring mountains and glaciers near Anchorage, Alaska; the glorious Maple and Beech forests in full autumn finery in Ontario, Canada . . . .
Yet, each time we’ve returned to our garden in rural Central Pennsylvania we are refreshed by its equally distinctive delights. While not grand in scale or vista, here is an intimacy, a comfortable awareness of beautiful growing things–all within easy reach of eyes, ears, hands . . . . I am reminded that each space we visit or inhabit offers unique value and beauty. In this season when many other opportunities are on hold, with the energy and days God gives us James and I are determined to treasure, nurture, and share the garden that is ours.
Can we help you love YOUR garden? Our garden-care experts would be honored to restore beauty and value to your garden with regularly-scheduled TLC visits. Give us a call: 717-653-1273!
Gratefully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& home garden “nurturer”)
Stone-and-boulder seating wall and hand-shaped stone patio surround an outdoor breakfast nook, and provide attractive ‘stay-cation’ potential in the warmer months.