The atmosphere is inclined toward
summer, the inexorable pull of one
season sliding into another. The
sere landscape escaping winter has
been altered for the ephemeral
nonce as poplars, willows, maples
and birch have re-discovered warmth
and finally the elm and the oaks
hawthorns and ash have emerged
with their living green bowers
shading the seasonal wild flowers
and the burgeoning bracken below.
The forest has been, again, reborn.
Demeter, hearking nature, has so
declared; her mourning in suspension,
her eternal damnation of the jewel-
filled ruby pomegranate set aside, as
all living creatures celebrate her
reasonable accommodation to the
loss that will, of necessity, strike us
all. The forest has become the cathedral
where we give praise to the power and
the glory of the presence of us all.
The celebrants are many and varied
from those of the earth and the sky
to those of tree-bound dependency.
A bluejay calls out in sharp attention,
as a robin sings interminably, beseeching
worms to make their early-day
appearance. Dragonflies in search of
their meals flash iridescent against
blooming honeysuckle and dogwood.
A veritable galaxy of star-choices
sit tantalizingly, delightfully before
me, flats full of begonias, marigolds,
million bells, bacopa, petunias,
portulaca, gazania, lobelia, impatiens
and much, much more. A dazzling
array of colour, shapes, potential
to achieve - the best garden yet!
But those are the evanescent and
fleeting visitors to my garden, those
delicate growing things that must be
planted year after year. The garden
base are those robust dwellers who
know their place, the permanent
residents whose presence is taken
for granted, yet also celebrated.
The best garden yet is what is
achieved, year after planting year.
The decisions reflecting decorative
shadings and structural form; my
own variable aesthetic, achieved
with Nature's kind acquiescence.
Those perennials, trees, shrubs and
plants blooming when they will.
My garden, in fact, happily does
for itself, nurtured by nature's
seasonal emissaries reminding garden
residents of time and place to herald
their appearance. And in a timed
sequence of theatrical brilliance
they set their own stage, a succession
of brilliantly spaced performances.
Overwhelming the senses of an
already-spring-compromised
gardener yearning to plant all the
colourful annuals that her garden
can absorb, the eye is hopelessly
bedazzled by the array, neatly
presented, row by precise row, of
amazing colour, tantalizing perfume,
exotic shapes of wonderful dimensions,
arrayed in the greenhouse.
The gardener, absorbed with the
rigours and pleasures of this annual
ritual, the fantastic choreography
of the gardener's dilemma. These
are the days of dizzying decision-
making, heralding summer months'
lavish displays of ravishing form,
texture, fragrance and colour.
Heart-breakingly gorgeous displays
when the amateurs egoistically
mimic Nature's deft, certain hand.
These floral specimens represent
as living jewels, their presence
an organic reflection of the Earth's
surrender of rare minerals; emerald,
ruby, sapphire, amethyst, topaz,
coral gems. Ours to be had, to be
proudly presented in our gardens.
The brilliant song of a goldfinch
filters the morning air. Its bright
yellow form flirting through the
branches of a plum tree, its
presence flattering the golden
orb of the sun, blazing, unfolding
the crystalline lightness of spring.
From the garden, lilies-of-the-valley
and lilacs perfume the landscape.
Slight wisps of wind carry the
sound and the fragrances as far
as the eye can see. From another
tree, a robin burnished by the sun
trills welcome to another dawn.
Rose bushes, honeysuckle and
clematis send new life creeping into
place. Siberian lilies, bearded iris,
bleeding heart and mountain bluet
unabashedly contest one another
for pride of place in colour and form.
The garden's place is that of the
bees, the butterflies, the dragonflies
and the birds that drop by for
their casual, song-filled visits.
Warmly and tenderly embraced by
spring, the woodlands' green haze of
days earlier has been transformed
into a voluptuous green canvass,
sheltering animals, birds and insects
from predatory view of the aerial
carnivores who fly above the fresh
green canopy sighting their prey.
The warming sun filters hazily
through the reborn landscape,
prodding late-spring wildflowers
to flaunt their heady-fragranced
presence. Wild cherry and apple,
and hawthornes have replaced the
Saskatoon berries. Bunchberries
blithely shine white floral faces
among the yellow, mauve violets.
Hawks circle and screech high-
pitched hunting calls. Crows flap
lazily, their wide, dark wings bold
against the perfect, untouched blue
of the sky. Cardinals whistle sharp
sweet songs. Butterflies, large and
small, slip through the languid air.
A tiny chipping sparrow, new from
its nest, fears flight, huddling for
comfort on the ground, wondering
where its home now will be, in that
wide, clear sky, the placid, newly-
leafed trees. Its tardy adaption
may soon sign its unfortunate fate.
Call it what you will, bushwhacked,
assaulted, yet it is sensitivity-,
sensibility-assaulting to become
vividly reminded of ourselves, how
we comport our presence on this
shared Globe, qualify and quantify
our existence by what we do - to,
for and of ourselves, singly, collectively.
There are options; become deliberately
unaware, shield oneself from the
constant reminders, shut out of
consciousness our utter lack of
humanity toward one another; shun
the daily firestorm of news assailing
our eyes and ears, the very inner
sanctuary of our frail souls.
Become a heedless, disinterested
bystander, averting our senses from the
senseless. Protect ourselves from utter
despair for we are helpless and of course,
blameless. The planet will still turn in
its orbit around the sun, the world will
proceed with its charnel-house events.
Events horrifying and eventually
steeling us to their constant occurrences
through the anaesthesia of indifference.
Wanting to know, to be responsibly
apprised and aware, responding in our
absurdly hopeless manner, this knowledge
captures us, demanding our recognition.
That we bear witness to the horrors,
exploitation, carnage, atrocities meted
out to the unfortunate by their tormentors.
This is the human race, a sensate,
emotion-beleaguered organism that
Nature evolved into a creature that
defies its maker, one she has generously
imbued with a creative mind, fully aware
of consequences, fully comfortable with
forging full-steam ahead, and damn
anything in our path to self-destruction.
In the market for a new house?
Ready to leave your current home?
Moving up and out ... looking for
something more upscale, perhaps
to reflect your inner self and its
yearnings? Look no further, ample
alternatives exist, awaiting your
notice, and ultimate decision.
"This property of approximately 12
acres on Hidden Oaks Golf Course
offers exceptional potential for a
magnificent private residence or
corporate retreat. There is a six-
bedroom, five and one-half bath
home with pool and spa already in
place within walking distance of beach."
"Unparalleled views highlight this nearly
14,000-square-foot Mediterranean
estate atop its own 86-acre knoll. Now
being built, the secured, six-bedroom,
nine-bath home with observation tower,
library and fireplaced living, dining and
family rooms will feature the finest
appointments. Property offers a wine
cellar, guest/pool house and maid's quarters."
"This outstanding custom-built waterfront
contemporary offers quality workmanship,
handsome design and walls of glass. Beveled
mirrors, sliding glass doors, Portuguese
marble and 24-karat gold fixtures in the
whirlpool tub are some of its many special
features. 100 feet of bulkhead have two
motorized boat lifts, deep water, 8 decks and
panoramic river and Atlantic Ocean views."
"Incomparable in design, this country
estate is majestically sited on 5 gently rolling
acres and is only minutes by car to the nation's
capital. The exterior is Classic in style, while
the dynamic interior features hand-glazed
walls, faux finishes, 2 master suites, four
additional bedrooms, tray-ceilinged living
room, great room with cathedral ceiling and
media center, billiard room and an exercise
suite. Sharing the property are a large
pool, spa, tanning platforms and stone patios."
Do not despair. Make enquiries. Gird
your resolve. Consider listing your home
with these realtors. Consider offering a trade.
Be creative, and self-assured! Yours, for
theirs. It's done, really it is, all the time.
Explain the pleasures of a more simple,
less complicated life within a less favourably
appointed, an admirably less complex structure.
Resulting in fewer concerns, far less upkeep.
Tell them about those modest expenses.
Say what a sacrifice you are willing to make
on their behalf, to simplify their lives, mate.
