Still alive!

Hydrangea, in my garden

I woke this morning before light, cupped a warm mug of coffee in my hands and let a soft shiver run through my body, thinking autumn is here. As I sipped my coffee I reflected on what Easter means to me. It has been years since I last attended Mass but my faith grows stronger each day.

Easter, without all the religious rituals, has a different meaning for me. As Easter Sunday approaches I am filled with anticipation as the day brings the realisation, all things are new (born) again. It is a feeling of hope, of determination to make changes, and feel emotionally lighter.

When the sun rose higher, I washed my mug as I watched the hydrangea plants in the garden bed outside the kitchen window. I love hydrangeas! My friend planted them outside the kitchen window so I had something beautiful to look at when they bloomed. They were planted in summer when I got the plants half price in Bunbury when my favourite plant nursery closed their doors but because I had been away for weeks on end, one plant in particular looked like it didn’t make it. I had noticed in the days before Easter as the sun moved across the home, there was just a small triangle of fierce sunlight that hit one plant directly. It was not surprising the plant shed the lovely green leaves and looked ready to be tossed into the bin but I didn’t have the heart to do this.

This morning I walked toward the brown plant, determined to yank it out and put it in the bin. When I looked closer, I found the plant was still alive! It was my Easter gift!

May you, too, see growth in the impossible and improbable.

Happy Easter!

Until next time

As always

a dawn bird

I gave you a garden …

I’ve always had roses in my garden.  In my old house, I had a hedge of 14 iceberg roses and when they shed the petals, it was snow in summer.  I loved them.

Dr T has a green thumb.  He loves native flora.  I regret not sharing his interest when we were married.  He created and kept a beautiful garden.  Never a blade of grass out of place.  I remember a particular argument with me (unfairly) accusing him of never doing anything for me.  He calmly responded, he gave me a garden.  I was so young then to truly appreciate the sentiment.  I do, now.

Dr T and I had made a deal we would plant a rose bush in the garden on the anniversary of our wedding each year.  The first one was Sweetheart and the last, Peace.  Sums up our long relationship and where we are now!  I really wanted to bring the Sweetheart rose bush with me when I moved but was reluctant in case it died.  My former home is around the corner from where I now live, so I see the roses every day.

I’m not a roses girl, but if you gave me tulips … especially white tulips … well, that’s another story.  I much prefer roses in the garden.  The only person who cuts and takes my roses indoors, is my neighbour who has my permission to enjoy them when I’m not home.

The last few days have been gruelling of driving long distances in very poor weather.  This morning I rose at 6:30am.  It was dark and cold in the chalet in the Wheatbelt, … minus 1 degree C I’m told.  I lay in bed for another half an hour trying to warm before the dash to the kitchen for coffee.  While in bed the freight train rolled past.  I felt the rumble through the floor.  A delicious feeling of vibration that travelled up my spine.  I enjoyed the moment thinking I’ll be home for the night.  I felt a pang of wanting to be home and where the roses are.

I left work early and arrived home just before dusk to find my front garden is awash with roses.  Probably the last of them before winter pruning.

Enjoy with me!

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Until next time

As always

a dawn bird

In response to RDP – Friday : Rose

A summer garden

thumb_IMG_0521_1024.jpgSummer, in my frosted garden.

When in bloom, the jasmine rains steadily.  The perfume is almost overwhelming.  The bees and I can’t get enough of it.

I’ve grown to love this garden.  The previous owner was a florist.  She knew what to plant and where.  I lost the honeysuckle vine in the storm, but glad the jasmine survived winter’s wrath.

I’m slowly adapting to this space.  It is special for many reasons, but the most important one being, it is home to me.

Until next time

a dawn bird