"When the world says "give up"
Hope whispers "try it one more time" ~ Author Unknown
All throughout the night, the winds howled here in my little town... I had taken my hanging baskets of flowers down before I went to bed... and brought in my new flowery pillows off of my garden chair... taken down my little solar butterfly lantern and secured everything the best I could... I am used to this routine... the winds come up often here... sometimes really severe... I have lived here in our little valley all of my life... it is a part of life here... last night was one of those nights... this morning, my gardens were a shambles... I was out in them at the first light of dawn... sooo many broken flowers and stems... branches and leaves... I spent the entire morning cleaning up and staking those plants that needed it... talking to them... watering them...loving them... and encouraging them to keep growing... to survive... at least three neighbors came by and asked "Julie Marie, why DO you keep on gardening like you do?"... I am asked this often... and my answer is always the same... "it's my inheritance"...
An inheritance is many things... money, property, material objects... all good things... but to me, my "inheritance" is the other gifts I was also given by my family... love, strength, honesty, manners, kindness, caring for the earth and all of God's precious creatures... taking care of the land and it's inhabitants... a will to go on when things are not going well... just like my quote at the top of my post says... "Hope whispers try it one more time"... for I am a gardener... by birth... the three beautiful ladies in the photo above are my inspiration... my Hope... my foundation... my mama (holding me as a baby)... my grandmother Delphine in the single photo and my great~grandmother Sarah in the photo with my great~grandfather... my "inheritance" came from them... all of the beautiful gifts in life I listed above, and my everlasting love of gardening beginning when I was just a little girl... tagging along at their sides in their own gardens...... three of the strongest influences in my life... always have been... always will be... I hear their gentle voices whispering to me to "try it one more time" as well..."The love of gardening is a seed once sown
that never dies" ~ Gertrude Jekyll
that never dies" ~ Gertrude Jekyll
So... I gathered some of my beautiful flowers the winds had broken off and made a pretty arrangement out of them... setting them in my bedroom... for the three beautiful ladies in the photographs... and now I am off to my gardens... filled with Hope... just the way they all would have been... and you know what... I think they will be right there with me... xoxo..."Heaven is not merely over our heads
but under our feet" ~ Thoreau
but under our feet" ~ Thoreau
11 comments:
Hi there, I'm with you totally-there is nothing more important than anything in the material way.
WE had a few nice days this week but now it is so windy, cold and stormy.
Have a simply delightful weekend.
Hugs, Noreen
Very nice! Great old photos also. Enjoy your gardening and your inheritance.
Cher Sunray Gardens
That was beautiful Julie!
I feel the same inheritance here...I was just out pulling weeds BETWEEN the rains. They have come in strong and powerful. ALONG with the weeds though, the mosquitoes were GOBBLING me up, SO...I came inside! All we go through AS GARDENERS will never be understood by those who don't. Our gardens will rebound and be MORE BEAUTIFUL. I call it Natures Pruning,hehe!
Have a wonderful holiday weekend,
BIG HUGS to you,
Donna
Yes Julie Marie, I think it is in our blood. Never Give Up! I think it's a wonderful gift of inheritence. We use to get alot of wind at our Highland home. We were located close to the A.F. Canyon. Here in Alpine we are nestled in a bit lower and don't have nearly as much. Wind or no wind, gardeners we will forever be!
Hugs,
Jann
Hi my Darling Julie Marie,
Keep your sweet spirit that your wonderful role models have instilled in you. Your garden will grow and bloom again from all your love and attention.Your hanging baskets are gorgeous! May the winds die down and the rains be gentle. Big hugs to you!
Happy weekend,
Patti
Beautifully written Julie Marie. Even though some of your flowers were broken by the wind you are still enjoying their beauty by bringing them inside. I just know they make you smile. I hope the wind settles down. It has been windy here today as well and is horrible for the wild fires that are burning.
blessings,
Danielle
I can so relate to this post. As I wrote earlier in the week, I am such a plant addict, and I believe it's also my inheritance.
That's too bad the wind destroyed your garden; I'm sure you'll have it in good order again very soon!
Always love the way that you write and the stories you tell Julie....enjoy the garden! xo, Janet
Precious post. Precious.
When I was a young bride I learned the most beautiful song and use to play it on my guitar and sing it for my Mr. AGPMan. Here are the lyrics...
LITTLE FLOWERS
"Little flowers never worry
When the wind begins to blow
And they never, never cry
When the rains began to pour
Though its wet and though so cold
Soon the sun will shine again
And they smile unto the world
for the beauty to behold
"So let it rain, let it rain,
let it fall...
Let all troubles keep knocking on my door..
If we learn the right from wrong,
It will help to make us strong.."
When the cloud begins to gather
And the wind begins to blow
Little flowers don't complain
Though they're tossing to and fro
I guess they've learned the secret
That only little flowers know
If it never, never rains
They will never, never grow..
Lord please help me learn the secret
That only little flowers know
If it never, never rains,
Then I'll never, never grow."
I love your big, loving, caring heart!
xoRebecca
What a wonderful post, Julie Marie- full of the positive attitude that says Never Give Up No Matter What. I love that about you...and I know that it breaks your heart to lose some of what you have put your sweat and soul into...but I know that you will take the moment to shed a tear and then move forward to start anew and fix it all up again! Blessings- I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend-
A little fairy garden coming your way tomorrow on my post!;>)- xo Diana
Hi Julie marie -Such a beautiful post- I love all your inspirational quotes- and Love your beautiful outlook on everything- Have a wonderful week Sincerely, Jonny
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