“New beauty meets us at every step in all our wanderings.” ~ John Muir
Contributed by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& daily beauty seeker)
We’d love to partner with you in planning and crafting special outdoor spaces that will bring “new beauty at every step” in your garden wanderings. Bring us your garden dreams…let’s build something beautiful together!
“As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can.”
~ John Muir
A few weeks ago, several of our children and grandchildren gathered in one of our favorite places on the planet, Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, where our daughter and son-in-law introduced their now 10-year-old daughter to one of our family favorites, the Franconia Ridge Trail. Although James and I stayed in the lowlands with their other children this time, we will always remember our own first hike on this same trail, during our honeymoon 42 years ago: wind in the trees and water splashing over rocks as we ascended the Falling Waters Trail, the magnificent vistas and fragile alpine flowers on the heights, and the scramble down rocky scree and slippery granite slabs on the descent. It was wonderful to relive the memories, this time with our oldest granddaughter!
How grateful we are that we have learned to “play outside” as a family, opening our eyes, ears, hearts to God’s great, wide, wonderful world!
Where will you be “playing outside” this summer? Feel free to share your adventures in the comments.
Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& creation celebrant)
“It’s always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.”
~ John Muir (Scottish-born American naturalist, environmental philosopher, and early advocate for wilderness preservation; 1838 – 1914)
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& eternal sunrise seeker)
This glorious sunrise photo was taken from our patio, designed and installed by the amazing team at Hanselman Landscape & Gardens. Can you see why I call our garden “my daily vacation”?!?
“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”
~ John Muir (1838 – 1914)
Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife
“A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease. Every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life, every fiber thrilling like harp strings, while incense is ever flowing from the balsam bells and leaves. No wonder the hills and groves were God’s first temples, and the more they are cut down and hewn into cathedrals and churches, the farther off and dimmer seems the Lord himself. So we will say our prayers here and sleep . . . and the God of the mountains will never fail us.”
~ John Muir (Scottish-American naturalist, conservationist and philosopher, often called the Father of the National Parks; 1838 – 1914)
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& awed in the presence of big trees in Muir Woods, CA)
Following the miraculous return of his eyesight, Muir’s cross-country trek was the beginning of his fascination with the abundant natural beauty of this land. Each discovery was an inspiration. Upon finding two new fern species, he wrote, “Every tree, every flower, every ripple and eddy of this lovely stream seemed solemnly to feel the presence of the great Creator.”
More than 30 years after his life-changing accident, while camping in the Yosemite Valley with then-President Theodore Roosevelt, Muir spoke of his dreams to “preserve places for rest, inspiration and prayers” for people from all walks of life. These visions struck a chord in Roosevelt’s nature-loving heart. Before the two men parted ways at the end of their camping trip, President Roosevelt promised to preserve Yosemite and the idea for a system of national parks took flight.
Next time you visit one of our awe-inspiring national parks, breathe a prayer of thanksgiving for the beauty around you, and for the visionary who–by accident– set out to preserve these magnificent landscapes for our enjoyment.
Gratefully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& thankful beneficiary of Muir’s legacy)
Credit to Christina Ung for her article: https://www.mentalfloss.com/…/1000-mile-hike-shaped…
…and to Audrey George for her photos of Great Smoky Mountains and Denali National Parks. James Hanselman is credited for the photos of Yosemite National Park.
