This quote relates to how I have thought for years.

" Ultimately, the choice to love each other is the only choice for a survivable future. The meek shall inherit the earth because everyone else will have died on their swords. Every time we open our hearts, we create the space for a global alternative. "

--Marianne Williamson (from Illuminata)

There is a little poem about being closer to God in the garden than any place else on earth and this morning it occurred to me why that might be. I was weeding a row of dill and as I would brush it that delightful smell would wiff up; the sprinkler was going in another part of the garden going swuuppp, swuupp, swuupp and making different sounds as the drops hit the different crops; the feel of the cool, moist dirt and the different little weeds; birds singing in the background; the sun warm on my back; the sights of nature all around me.....................a TOTAL NOW experience. I can be in the here and now in the garden and that is the point where I am most able to experience the God of my understanding. If I am taken up with the cares of yesterday or worries of the maybes of tomorrow and am not here now, I miss so much. Blessings to all.............does anyone else besides me love to weed????

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Answers

Ah Diane, thats sooo beautiful, what you said about being in the garden,with the birds, and the herbs and the weeds. Yes, I know what you mean! I have so many people worry over me and invite me to church, and they are so sure that I need to know their God. I can only sigh and smile and thank them, I long ago realized that there was no use trying to explain. They don't understand that long ago, I found God in the woods, and in the wild things, he is not in a building, or a book for me. I just can't help it, I feel him where I feel him!

I remember that poem you mention about being closer to God in the Garden then any place else on earth. I'm gonna try to find that, It is worth rereading!

There is also a song, "I Walk through the Garden Alone,while the dew is still on the roses, and the joy we share as we gather there, none other has ever known and he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own."I love that song I think Emmy Lou Harris sung it. Love Tren

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

From one Dianne to another Diane:

I also love to weed. When I'm in the garden I experience a certain kind of peace I find no where else. I have a small rolling garden stool that I sit on. I have a blue plastic snow sled I drag behind me to toss weeds into and I lug along a 5 gallon plastic bucket to hold all the rocks I pick out of the garden. I usually have my rag stuck in the waistband of my shorts (for the sweat) and a bottle of water near by. I'm all set for as long as it takes me. Life is good.

By the way, this note is for Tren. That song,"In the Garden" is an old Methodist hymn. When I was much younger I used to play piano for church and that was always one of my favorites. Just about says it all, huh?

Wishing you enough.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

I've spent the better part of this past week catching up in my various gardens - turn your back for a second and there they are! Diane, I know exactly how you feel - the sun, hot on my back...the birds discussing the weather...the challenge of plucking up just the weeds while avoiding the 1/2" parsnip seedlings...rediscovering my perennial herb garden ( I KNEW there was a stone path in here SOMEWHERE!)...pulling up the lemon balm volunteers, and inhaling the lovely scent...watching the hummingbird taste the flowers...

Before I started back to church, when my oldest was just a toddler, my sanctuary was my gardens. You can have a connection there that you just can't often find in a manmade building. Thanks, ladies, for letting me know I am not alone out there while I AM alone out there...

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Beautiful, Diane! Especially with the sound effects of the sprinkler!

I love being in the garden, too. I think I love weeding, too, b/c it seems to make things orderly for at least a while. Even if there's not a plant in sight yet, clearing brown earth and feeling warm sun on my back makes me happy. Add birdsong, blue skies with a few puffy white clouds, and yes, I too feel very much here and now.

Thank you for posting this.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Diane, Your post is really nice,.........but I think your pushing it a bit about "liking" to weed! Guess I'll have to admit to a nasty word or too about the darn things!..

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

And from one more Dianne - I love to weed also. Barefoot in the moist earth is. But does anyone else have this problem---some of the weeds are so pretty that I hate to kill them! And so very healthy! Tren, thanks for reminding me of that old hymn - I'll be singing it tomorrow out in the garden.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

I think I am addicted to weeding. I love it so much I can't stop, I don't want to stop, and the sun leaves the sky in the twilight way too fast for me. I wish it would stay evening longer. Evening in the garden is my favorite time, as I can transplant too, when I come across a stray tomatoe or melon or flower. Evening is the only time I can transplant the strawberry runners too. I just love the feel of the dirt, and the miracle of life it brings forth out there. I have tomatoe plants comming up like weeds everywhere and I can not just pull them, I have to take them somewhere else and plant them. They have now taken up 3 whole rows, they want to live and grow. I have many suprises in those rows! This year I have named the garden "The Tomatoe Garden". I picked the first Zucinni today. And my strawberrys are back in full force.

In my garden now is the Zinnias in massive bunches all blooming. There are stray Zinnias in the cantalope and melons. The Morning Glorys are light blue, and the Monarch butterflies just came a couple days ago. They love the Zinnia's! There were 3 huge ones all at once yesterday, and a couple dark blue butterflies too. It's just so awesomely beautiful, it's it's own little world out there. When the bees land on the flowers I say "Your welcome little bee, come back every day."

What is so awesome is that now after 3 summers of a garden here, the bees and birds know I am up here, I have more every year. My 3 Bluebirds stay in the garden all day with me.

And yes, I feel very close to God in my garden. Everything is a miracle. Even when I pick a tomatoe or strawberry, I think of God. The simple fact that they turn red when they are ripe makes it easy for us to see them amid all the green. And I talk to my mama, who is with God, as she was always happiest in her garden amoung her plants.

Oh, and Diane, last year I left the most beautiful weed alone, and let it grow, like I do lots of times. Well, by fall, it was a huge Stick Tight bush!

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Well I'll be darn! Even while discussing weed pulling you guys say it so sweetly! ....Kirk

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001

Cindy that was really nice...........can I add; and the 4 pairs of Goldfinch flitering around!....

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001

diane- thanks for starting this , it is pure poetry reading all these garden thoughts. You be sure and keep what you wrote about the garden Di, and pass it on to your grandkids!

Dianne- Thanks for the info. that that song is an old Methodist hymn, You know now that you reminded me I remember hearing my Grandma sing that song by the piano at the old Ava church. My grandpa was a Free Methodist preacher and he shared his love of nature with me. Those Methodists are pretty cool people!

Hey Willow Di, Yes those beautiful weeds. Gound Ivy is one of mine, everybody hates that stuff but I just adore the way it grows.

Cindy- what you wrote about your garden is so beautiful! You guys should reaLLY write stroys you know. I am so thankful that you share such wonderful thoughts with us all.

Hey, I found that poem!

The Lord God Planted a Garden

The Lord God planted a garden, in the first white days of the world,

And he set there an angel warden In a garment of light enfurled.

So near to the peace of Heaven, That the hawk might nest with the wren,

For there in the cool of the even' God walked with the first of men,

The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth-One is nearer to God's heart in a garden, Than anywhere else on earth.

Dorothy Frances Gurney

Wow! Dorothy knew what we are talking about didn't she!

Oh and please pardon me but I had to share this one too!

Who Loves a Garden

Who loves a garden, finds within his soul

Life's whole;

He hears the anthem of the soil

while ingrates toil:

And sees beyond his little sphere

The waving fronds of heaven, clear.

Louise Seymour Jones

Oh! And here is one more!

From the Riches of God

The riches of God are manifold,

Exceeding silver, surpassing gold;

And all may take from the endless store,

Since no man lives who is really poor.

Whoever has loved or laughed or sung,

Been gay or lovely, or brave or young,

Or walkied with the wind in a leafy place,

With the light of the moon on his lifted face;

Whoever has seen with his own two eyes

the new day break in the eastern skies,

Or scattered seed on the fragrant sod,

Has had a share in the wealth of God.

R.H. Grenville

O.K. I'll shut up, Hm you never will believe this but I really am a quiet person! You all have just inspired me so!

Love Tren

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001

One of the Indigo Buntings came to the garden today. He is usually down the field a bit with his wife and child, but today he came up to see me! He sat on a post quite near me and was just chattering about something. I told Steve he should feel very special for ever having even SEEN one of these beautiful birds. Boy, they are the prettiest shade of blue there is.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001

Well, I guess I can admit it in this crowd - I love to weed, too. By hand. It's meditation. I also leave certain weeds, because they're herbs, or because I want to see how they develop, or because they're Mexican tomatoes (see the tomato thread). I want to make sure some lambsquarters & chickweed go to seed. This time of year my garden is a jungle, and there's no place I'd rather be.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001

Hubby's been reading this and he wants to know what kind of weeds those are that you all are enjoying so much in your gardens!!

(Forgive him...the man just ain't got the soul of a gardener.)

I like to weed too - especially when I'm in one of THOSE moods - KILL! KILL!! KILL!!! Or when I'm in the mood to be left alone, 'cause it's a sure thing that no one is gonna offer to help.

And sometimes I go weed when I just want to smell the dirt. I like to go out in the garden and make like a sunflower - let the breeze move me as I stand with my face to the sun; I swear I can feel my feet growing roots! I've startled folks more than once by seemingly appearing out of nowhere in the garden - In reality I've been lying on my belly in the dirt watching a toad or a doodlebug or some other critter. And I love to fold up my kneeling rug and use it for a pillow and flop down flat o' my back and watch the clouds go by. Hmmm - now there's a thought that just popped into my head....some folks were complaining about having to bend or crawl to pick the strawberries and I told them "I reckon God didn't grow 'em on trees for a reason". Maybe he grows all these plants so low to the ground so we've got to kneel to take care of 'em and pick 'em - thus reminding us to be thankful. I sure seem to be offering up thanks more often in the garden than anywhere else! Then again, it's a whole lot easier to see all the gifts outside in the garden than inside some building.

Giving thanks for y'all...

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001

Hey Sam! I admit that I do the same thing! Let those weeds go sometimes just to see what they look like. I've also thought about building a bed just for weeds. If they had their own place would they stay away from the veggies? Weeds need more respect!!....Kirk

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2001