Rocks are incredibly practical in many applications: sitting, walking, jumping, eating (ice cream!), anchoring, stabilizing, strengthening, building, paving, sculpting, skipping, gathering, surfacing, collecting, beautifying, bordering, fencing, playing, climbing, exploring, sheltering, shading, beautifying . . . . What’s your favorite use for rocks?
Contributed by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& classic rock fan)
Recently, James and I spent a beautiful afternoon motorcycling along River Road near the Susquehanna River. We were searching for the Kelly’s Run Trail, a roughly four-mile walk through Rhododendron-covered, new-growth forest along delightful Kelly’s Run. We had last hiked the trail almost 30 years ago when our children were young but had not been back since. Now, with a rare, free afternoon, blue skies and sunshine, adventure called and we answered.
When we arrived at the trailhead, we were greeted by one of the rangers of the Lancaster County Conservancy. She told us about the trail just ahead of us and about other hiking trails and nature preserves managed by the Conservancy. We were amazed to learn that there are over 45 nature preserves in western Lancaster and eastern York County, Central Pennsylvania. Of these, over 20 have established parking lots and trails, and provide the best opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing and bird watching.
We were pleased to know that this organization has been gradually taking on management of some of Lancaster and York Counties’ wilder areas with the intent to make natural beauty more accessible to the public. Please visit the website to learn more about these fabulous places: https://www.lancasterconservancy.org/
Then, when adventure beckons, be sure to respond! You’ll be glad you did!
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& local adventure seeker)
Whether you yearn for a festive wreath on your front door, a bouquet of evergreens for your Advent candles, or sprigs of holly on the mantle, there is scope for imagination and creativity in a garden that thoughtfully incorporates evergreens in all their varied textures, colors, and fragrances.
Late each November or early December, it’s my delight to head out into the wind with a wheelbarrow and some pruning scissors, and wander the garden in search of evergreen cuttings to grace the candles we light each week in anticipation of Advent.
And each December, I breathe gratitude for a husband who understands the value of evergreens in a garden–especially in winter, when the brilliance of autumn is a sweet memory and the glories of spring are a far-off hope. So I gather the luster of Southern Magnolia and Holly, the fragrance of Juniper, Pine and Spruce, the texture of Fir, Cryptomeria, Temple Cedars and Yews, add a sprinkle of berries from Pieris and Winterberry . . .
Slowly, reflectively, I shape our Advent wreath, all the while giving thanks for family and friends, meaningful work, sunshine, birdsong, evergreens, and Hope, Peace, Joy and Love personified that first Christmas so long ago.
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& grateful wreath-shaper)
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”
~Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964; former Prime Minister of India)
Gardener’s wife (& wide-eyed wanderer)
Give us a call if your “out-of-doors” is less than inspiring: 717-653-1273. We delight in bringing beauty, interest, and serenity to our clients’ gardens!
One of the many reasons why gardens are increasingly precious to us in this day and age is that they help us to escape the tyranny of speed.
Our skies are streaked with jets, our roads have turned into race-tracks, and in the cities the crowds rush to and fro as though the devil were at their heels.
But as soon as we open the garden gate, Time seems almost to stand still, slowing down to the gentle ticking of the Clock of the Universe.
~ John Beverley Nichols (English writer, 1888-1983)
Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& ‘Garden Time’ advocate)
“Gratitude is the intention to count-your-blessings every day, every minute, while avoiding, whenever possible, the belief that you need or deserve different circumstances.”
~ Timothy Miller PhD, in How To Want What You Have
‘To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us — and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”
~ Thomas Merton (American trappist monk, writer, theologian, poet, social activist; 1915-1968)
We are grateful for your trust and friendship today and in each beautiful season of the year.
James and Betty Hanselman and family,
For all of us at Hanselman Landscape and Gardens