Small is Beautiful

prayerflags
tiny prayer flags recently gifted to me by a new friend

Oh, my goodness, dear readers, this is One of Those Weeks. I bet it is for you as well. Am I right? It began with the news that a beloved aunt had very quickly turned herself toward heaven’s door and that event, like a rogue wave rushing to my shore was accompanied with news, events and responsibilities from such a wide and pressing variety of venues, all swirling about me, demanding good wise choices that I truly thought my head might explode. OK, slightly dramatic. But I told myself, get bigger, you can hold the space for all of this. Just take one thing at a time. And then one would have thought I’d have sat down at my desk and begun the process, one by one. Right? Wouldn’t you? But no. I went out and mowed the lawn. Yes, I did. And then I grabbed my camera and headed out back because I knew in my heart of hearts if I was going to make good sound heartful and wise decisions I needed to sustain myself first. And so I did. I am a bumblebee, and I gathered the nectar from my immediate environment and came back to my desk with a broader perspective, all perfumed up with spirit and I am going to share it first with you before I Get On With It, while my heart is full and tears are filling my clearer eyes (probably why I see better now). ๐Ÿ™‚

I have these lavenders to comfort me, as I ponder why they are the most vibrant purple flowers I recall seeing on this plant. Could it be all the rain?
lavender

Close by is my trusty and much loved oregano, always at the ready to enhance something cooking in the kitchen. Hi, oregano. I love you.
oregano

First tomatoes finally in the ground! Hurray! Hurray! This makes me so happy. I love to grow tomatoes. They are so generous and I’m so grateful.
tomato

“What am I growing??” I tweeted recently! I thought these were lettuces, but my posse of tweeties helped me figure out these are actually curly endives. I have a dozen and have no recollection whatsoever of planting them and they have reseeded themselves into abundance, wherever they came from. Thank you.
endive

A book I recently reviewed reminded me that marigolds are good companion plants so I have several now living among my veges. So cheerful and pretty!
marigold1
Into the broader garden, who would not be uplifted by this wonderful basket of petunias I found recently and brought home? Happy, happy, happy!
petunia

And, sweet, sweet, sweet tiny precious orange buds about to open. The anticipation of the beauty of their scent is exciting and beyond that there will be oranges this year! How lovely!
orange

Now these pretties are seldom seen as they are part of a long ago garden, do not even grow in the sun, but persist, hidden among too tall purple and white lilacs. They are rather a secret, but I show you today.
backroses

Close by is a large rambling bush of small red roses which I opted to keep rather than listen to a gardening consultant who opined that they were “just old stock” and that I should pull them up. No, thank you. ๐Ÿ™‚
backred

I am being filled up in this gathering process. Here the happy pansy.
purplepansy

I take great delight in the 4th of July roses I bought for myself and another for dear friend Conny last year for Mother’s Day!
4thofJuly

And I breathe in the sublime and perfect and glorious old roses, one of my favorites in this garden. Yes, they are as big as they look! And their fragrance is as rich as one can imagine.
oldroses

This morning I find the first blue geranium!
geranium

And, oh, this precious hosta. I love it!
hosta

Am I getting full? I am, indeed. Exiting the garden, I look back over my shoulder at the space I have prepared for Antonia’s Mother’s Day visit. I know my girl. I know she will come into the early morning garden and meditate among the California poppies cheerily threatening to overpopulate this part of the garden. We love that.
poppy

Counterintuitive as it might seem, entering the garden, taking a hike on the beach or in a forest can prepare us well for the gnarliest of tasks and responsibilities. I know as gardeners you know what peace and beauty there is in the garden upon which we can draw nurturance at any time. I feel better now.

And I send you love and warmest garden blessings,
Kathryn xoxo

20 Responses to “Small is Beautiful”

  1. Lovely, mom! You’ve captured the Beauty around you so well, as always!
    Wrapping you in Loving peaceful thoughts. I SO look forward to seeing you soon!!

    Love you,
    Antonia
    xoxox

  2. Hi, Sweetheart! Thank you! Looking forward to Mother’s Day with you! ๐Ÿ™‚ Love, Mom xoxo

  3. thank you for the simple reminder to see the divine in the details. a lovely post (p.s. oregano – i love you too!).

  4. kathryn, this was very beautiful and your garden is already so beautiful and calming, something i also needed…gratitude with blessings of peace♥

  5. “Make yourself bigger…” So poetic! Thank you for a beautifully written post, and photos to match. You are, in many ways, an inspiration!

  6. Roses already! My Mary Queen of Scots rose is in bloom (but it is by far the fist one), as are the iris and the hardy geraniums. Lilacs are passing, yard is still full of white violets but most of the other herbs and small bulbs in the grass are done so next week we’ll mow for the first time in the front by the street and in the back. Less and less to mow in the front yard as the violets take over. It seems to be about a week or so early at this point, even though it was a late spring. Happy Mother’s Day. Enjoy it in the garden.
    Hugs, Julie

  7. Welcome, AnniesAnnuals! This is a very sweet comment which touched my heart. Divine in the details, indeed! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you. Kathryn xoxo

  8. Hi, dear Linda, down there down south and not so far away. Big hugs to you! And thank you! Kathryn xoxo

  9. Mikki_Q, good morning! You have put tears in my eyes, a wonderful way to start the day! And blessings on your new garden, my dear! Thank you! Kathryn xoxo

  10. Hi, Cousin Julie! Less and less mowing as the violets take over sounds like a lovely proposition! Enjoy your Midwest unfolding! Love, Kathryn xoox

  11. What a beautiful post Kathryn. I’m sorry for your loss, please accept my condolences. I admire your attitude and appreciate the wisdom you share with us from your garden.
    Love,
    Kathlene

  12. Hi, Kathlene, Thank you for your loving warm wishes. Love, Kathryn xoxo

  13. Warm thoughts for you on the passing of your beloved aunt. I am so glad you were able to find solace in the garden. Nourish your own roots in the soil so that one later produce fruit! I had been thinking of you as reading your blog is a special treat.
    Best wishes to you and Antonia on your day together.
    Oranges! and orange poppies!
    ๐Ÿ™‚
    Philip

  14. Hi, Philip! Bless you! Many many thanks. ๐Ÿ™‚ Kathryn xoox

  15. wow, those roses just POPPED off the page…. I loved the little “display” of the prayer flags as well. Delicious!
    May your heart heal quickly from the loss of your Aunty.
    Thanks, as always, for sharing the beauty that surrounds you. Aloha, p

  16. I am also going out to the garden today, to nourish my soul.

    Still hope to head to maine on the 20th.

    Thanks for your inspirational thoughts,always.

    Fondly, Betsy

  17. Hi, Pamela, So glad you enjoyed the pics. ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you for the heartfelt well wishes. Love, Kathryn xoox

  18. Good morning, Betsy. May you find what you need in your garden. Loving thoughts headed your way.
    Kathryn xoxo

  19. Even in the midst of one of my three day migraines I visit my garden. Such a restorative balm. “Hello oregano. Hello frisรฉe!” And I also say, “Hello garden cress that gets my circulation going. And hello neighbor’s petite kitty that hides under the butterfly bush.”
    Your garden looks untouched by pests. My little Marcel studied companion planting and so he knew to put the marigolds in right away. The slugs promptly ate them to the ground. “It’s okay” I tell him, “That’s part of being a gardener.” I will tell him in the future, “Like Kathryn says – make yourself bigger. Grow.”
    Loving warm wishes to you, xoxo.

  20. Awww, welcome, Sylvie. What sweet comments! Very touching. Thank you for the visit. Kathryn xoxo

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