July 1, 2019: A Time to Bloom
“Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”Hans Christian Andersen
I have always loved flowers. One of my earliest memories is as a three year old, planting pansies in our garden with my mother. She patiently guided me in the ‘art” of gardening; from the preparation of the soil; to the care we took in gently planting each little plant in its own special spot. This began a lifelong love affair where being covered in dirt brings delight, not dismay. I see empty garden beds as blank canvases, waiting to bloom. A garden center is like a candy store. I’m enthralled by the smells and glorious sights, enticed by the potential of the blooms in the days ahead.
“Almost every person, from childhood, has been touched by the untamed beauty of wildflowers.”Lady Bird Johnson
Each Spring, I eagerly search for signs of returning wildflowers. On our daily walks with our golden retrievers, I bring my camera with me. I love capturing the incredible deceptively, delicate blooms From the sensuous lady slipper to tiny bluets, each sighting is a homecoming and the sense that all is right in the world.
Bluebead Lilly
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”Luther Burbank
Flowers are medicine for my soul. We bought our current home in New Hampshire five years ago and moved in March when the grounds were covered with snow.. We had sold our previous house where I had built up gardens for 17 years. Our new one had none. My first endeavor in the Spring was to pour through garden books, imagining and then later building beds of perennials. From seedlings to shared plants from friends, the gardens continually evolve.
“A flower blossoms for its own joy.”Oscar Wilde
Every year we migrate to a lake in northern Maine, where we setup our studio and live through the fall. Although the winters are longer and harsher, my gardens still bloom. Along with all of the paraphernalia we need, I always make room fin our cars for flowers. A daily ritual that brings great joy is wandering through these beds, removing spent blossoms, and picking fresh bouquets for our home. A vase of fresh flowers brings a sense of joy even on the grayest or rainiest of days.
Despite the loaded car, we had to make room for flowers Our studio gardens waiting to bloom
“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.”Buddha
In a chaotic world where too often the negative is emphasized, the simple act of looking at a flower can renew the spirit. In these Maine woods, I continue my walks and search for wildflowers. As the season evolves, the cast of characters evolve from blossoms to berries and from brilliant yellow flowers to ethereal designs. Each glimpse and the miracle of its bloom and beauty, is a gift to my soul.
Dandelion-Even after it’s blossoms have floated away on the wind, it’s still beautiful.
More quotes to bloom with:
1. ”Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes.”Clare Ansberry
2.”Don’t let the tall weeds cast a shadow on the beautiful flowers in your garden.” Steve Maraboli
3. ”In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends.” Okakura Kakuzo
4.”To me, flowers are happiness.” Stefano Gabbana
5.”I am in awe of flowers. Not because of their colors, but because even though they have dirt in their roots, they still grow. They still bloom.” D. Antoinette Foy
6. ”Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower.”John Harrigan
7. ”If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
8. ”The earth laughs in flowers.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
9. ”Stretching his hand up to reach the stars, too often man forgets the flowers at his feet.” Jeremy Bentham
10. “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” Lady Bird Johnson
