My Mother sensed my passion for the outdoors, farm animals and nature when I was very young.
One day she gave my brother and me a few dried pinto beans and told us if we planted them
in the ground out in the yard, we could watch them grow. I believed.
So, with what I remember as being 5 beans and little cup of water, I planted mine
under a tree by the white fence in our back yard. I checked and watered them every day.
I still recall the amazement and happiness I felt when the miracle of green stems
poked their little heads through the ground and then continued to grow.
There was no harvest, but a gardener was born.
Fast forward many years and failed attempts at planting and growing things.
We moved here to our present home in 1986
with two young daughters, ages 3 months and 2 years old.
There were only pastures, wild flowers and hay fields then.
I just knew it was my mission to plant roses and flower gardens
and beautify our place with delightful spaces for rest and contemplation.
Garden #1 began the first fall we built our house and moved here.
I filled it with garden soil and numerous spring flower bulbs.
I crossed my fingers!
The flower bulbs and our little girls were all blooming by the following Easter Sunday morning!
Garden #1 has evolved over the years in the same spot and has been called the
Saint Francis Garden (because the statue is almost as old as the garden itself).
The rock border was added to replace the rotten landscape timbers many years ago.
One of the many faces of the St. Francis Garden
And now a little Fairy Garden has been added to the back side of it for our Granddaughters.
Garden #2 began as the Welcome Garden at the end of the driveway to our home.
It has evolved over the years and seen many changes as our family has grown.
Now it comes complete with a new generaltion called the "welcome gang".
The back side of the Welcome Garden with the Herbs and Roses.
Garden #3 Began at the east end of our house and has expanded over many years.
It was always called the Cottage Tea Garden because I think it's important to
have a place to sit with company and sip tea or watch a sunset or read a book.
It has also morphed over the years as nature has taken it's toll on some things
and perennials have grown and multiplied.
A Fall luncheon Tea Time with my daughters. What a treat!
It is also a garden that changes with the seasons.
And a good place to grow herbs and berries
and the grandchildren love to pick them when they are ready!
Blueberries and Blackberries
And Lavender harvested several years ago.
A new rock walkway was added this spring
Garden #4 began as the Secret Garden. When no rock wall and Hobbit door was ever added
to keep it a secret, the name was changed to The Woodland Garden.
It is located behind the house and is connected to the Cottage Tea Garden.
A hosta flower bed in the Woodland Garden.
Now, 35 years after having moved here and with the help of many gardening friends
who have shared their advice and their own perennials, and mostly by God's design and inspiration,
there are many flowerbeds and gardens that have graced our place with beauty and peace.
And there are more gardens to create and maintain
and flowers, bulbs and bushes to share with those who are future gardeners with a mission!
~ Gwen of IRISH ACRFES
Comments