At some point early in my gardening days
I decided on a perennial garden.
My memory is it grew out of my desire to have flowers to cut.
My friend Sally passed along some Gloriosa Daisies
The morning the backhoe showed up in her garden.
I was off to a good start.
Over the ensuing decades I’ve bought,
Been given, planted, nurtured and killed
More plants that I care, or would want to count.
I’ve had two big perennial gardens
With a borrowed temporary garden in between.
Yet, every year this time I’m amazed with what I see
In my own backyard.
It’s the rhythm of life
Played out in a growing season.
It is life
With all of its surprises and disappointments
Joys and sadness.
This has been a week
That has reminded me
Of my life chosen to live
In this “perennial place”.
In the span of a few days
I’ve watched my garden
Go from dying back tulips
To the first blooms of Iris
And Peonies.
With lots of buds coming soon.
Life beyond the garden
Brought this delightful note
From the lady who delivers our morning paper.
A few curves thrown my way
And friends who have decided the time has come to retire
Yet struggle with that decision.
I was blessed with surprise May Day flowers
Delivered by charming little girls
And their caring mothers.
The week ended appropriately
With the hope of the next generation.
A garden baby shower for Megan & JP
And their baby boy to come this fall.
The new week began this morning
With communion
In a place where I have worshipped
For over 40 years
With people I’ve known a few months
And others many decades.
Perennial places.
They give us roots
To grow and blossom.
Deep roots to keep us upright
When the winds blow and bend us.
Deep roots to strengthen us.
Deep roots to grow branches
That encircles our lives
Individually and together.
Gail
In My Garden 