My Mother’s garden.
In the Spring, the hands of my mother turn the soil. She picks each plant lovingly and places it in the dirt. She pats the ground around it and wills it to grow beautiful.
She works her garden all the year, but most especially, spring and summer. Sweating, watering, and arranging until she gets it just about right (but it’s never done).
We look upon her gallery of color and placement as if in the finest of museums. From one garden bed to the next, there is more to gaze upon and revel in. Hidden delights find your eye in wonder. Magic sparkles and weaves throughout the yard, delighting in fairy tales come true.
I don’t know if I every thanked my mother for her work, or for the love of gardening, she has instilled in me. I don’t know if she knows how much I appreciate the beauty she brings to life.
I took my camera to Oklahoma, in hopes, I could capture her joy and return it to her.
Mom, you make life more beautiful by just being in it. Thank-you for what you share with us, and for what I can share with all of you.
Gardening is a very special gift. It’s a mix of nurture, artistry, and love. There are many lessons taught in the garden of life. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
“There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.”
When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden.”
“A little garden in which to walk, and immensity in which to dream.”
“All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of yesterday.”
“As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.”-Ben Hogan
“”True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice.”
— St. Francis of Assisi
“To plant a garden is to believe in the future.”
“Flowers… are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844
“Flowers whisper “Beauty!” to the world, even as they fade, wilt, fall.” ~Dr. SunWolf
“Count the garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall. Count your life with smiles and not the tears that roll.”
Living, Loving, Laughing.... 
My mom always felt close to God while gardening.
This is one thing I wish I would have learned from her.
She is no longer able to garden as she once did.
She has a few indoor plants.
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Synchronicity – God-incidence. . .whatever you want to call it: Isn’t it interesting that my post today was going to be about planting and growing a garden? We had some landscaping – the heavy work that neither I nor Hubs can do – completed for us yesterday, and I have spent the morning reflecting on the beauty, and how nice to see what you envisiond actually come to take place! Even looking better than you imagined. Lovely photos toay, Angelia – I always enjoy seeing your work, and learning some. (Anyway, I’m saving my “garden” post for another time, and decided to finish one that I had started weeks ago!)
I am so excited that you are going to the SD Zoo! I’m sort of jealous, too – but I will be thrilled vicariously with your photos – be sure to post as many as possible! Check out the photos/slideshow I put together of my Knoxville Zoo trip. I loved the visit, but had difficulty dealing with finger-smudged glass barriers, and wire bariers beteen my camera and the subject! It was a learning process, and you will see that I hae far to go, but oh my! I had fun!
http://paulatohlinecalhoun1951.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/some-animals-i-bagged-on-my-safari/
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What a beautiful post, and beautiful photos to accompany it. Simply lovely.
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Beautiful as always! My mother loves to garden also. Unfortunately, while I like to look at flowers, I can’t grow them to save my life. I have a black thumb! I even killed a cactus once.
♥Spot
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I am not a gardener. But I marvel at the fact that some people are. I really am amazed when people grow FOOD (it doesn’t come from a store?). I loved when my husband did gardening, but it takes time and sometimes other things take away from gardening time. My mother-in-law has a beautiful yard. She has a green thumb she passed it on to her son. So at least I do get to enjoy the benefits of her garden and my hubby’s when he has time.
My heart got all warm and fuzzy while reading this post. You telling your mom you appreciate her and her gardening, and all . . . so wonderful.
One of these days you are going to sense/feel/know in your head and heart what we all know . . . .you are a wonderful photographer. The day will come . . . .
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Oh, my gosh, what a beautiful blog you have.
Though blogs like yours are a delight to me, they sure make me feel like yanking in my shingle.
This is gorgeous.
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I so agree that gardening is a special gift! It takes a lot of patience, love and care to make a garden flourish 🙂 I bet it’s your mom’s happy place surrounded by all the fruits of her hard work!
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Beautiful garden pictures, I love all the statues protecting and living in the garden. Have a wonderful day!
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oH the colours of the flowers are sooo brilliant !!! and i love the rose! it looks so rustic
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Love that second picture!!! It tells such a story!! And I looove your close-up flower shots. I take those all the time…my fave!
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Hi Angelia:
As always, some very good photos in your post! It’s interesting, when you sit down and think about it, how much our parents (especially moms) can influence our tastes – even subconsciously. My mother passed away a few months ago and one of the many things I miss about her was her love for food. It fueled my enjoyment of food and motivated me to cook some very good stuff when I cooked for her. I still get a lot of enjoyment from cooking, but I miss our little food brainstorm sessions. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
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Oh what a beautiful garden and a beautiful post. I love that quote too about gardening being akin to having hope for the future.
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Your images are breathtaking…
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Oh, I missed the internet! One of these days I am going to get around to taking a class so I can take beautiful pictures, but in the meantime, you truly know how to make me happy. So I will come over here to see some of God’s beautiful creation displayed. Thank you!
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Expert photography … lovely garden of a green thumb.
Angelia, you should talk more about your mom and your relationship with her more often.
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