“New
seed is faithful.Its roots deepest
in the places that are most empty”
- The Faithful Gardenerby Clarissa Pincola Estes
Zinnias in the Morning Mist at Redbud Farms
We've created a new
project called "My
Secret Garden," where we will post stories and photos of our friends'
& customers' Secret Gardens. Our customers and web visitors, who come in over
the Garden Gate -- or backyard fence through e-mail, often send us their garden
photographs. When they do, we're asking them to write a short paragraph
telling us why they like their garden spot so much, or how they decided to put
it all together anyway. They think for awhile, then put into words
and
pictures their favorite things about their garden. It may be a spot in
full sun, in their in their own back yard, or miles
and miles away in some secluded, mist-touched
glade, where inspiration comes easily,
and tranquility is the mood. At other times, we receive solicitations for
donations of product or services. We like to oblige, especially where the
work is dedicated to "horticulture as therapy." Some of our favorite projects
are listed below with pictures and heartfelt stories to warm your days.
Come wander here when you start to think there may
be no good left in the world. These pages will surely help you
remember.....
"You are a bright spirit,
and you have a unique purpose here on earth. Never underestimate your
gift, nor the power of your soul's touch."
-- Flavia Weedn
"This is the true joy in life, the
being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a
force of nature instead of a feverish selfish clod of ailments and grievances
complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I
am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I
live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be
thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I
rejoice in life for it's own sake. Life is no 'brief candle' to me.
It is sort of a splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want
to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it over to future
generations."
-- George Bernard Shaw
Massachusetts' Customer Reports In...
One of our Charities is the Watertown Massachusetts' Sheepshearing Festival,
being held this year April 26. Phyllis Miele, our long-time customer and
now friend, is in charge of the Children's Gardening program associated with
this annual event. Been sending her seeds for for that for awhile.
She'd retired from the job of heading this program but decided after a couple of
years hiatus to come back to it. So I heard from her again this year.
She writes that her zinnia and other seeds from five years ago had been lost in
a drawer. She found them last season and planted them, and to her
astonishment, they grew! She reports that it took longer for them to germ,
but she did have wonderful flowers! Good for you, Phyl! I hope she
will send us photos of this year's event so we may share them with you, our
readers, on these pages.
Meanwhile, Phyllis wrote a short poem for her daughter, June, who has
"single-handedly cleared the snows of 2002-2003 from the walkways and driveways
around the old brown house..." Here is that poem, a fitting opening for
our Secret Gardens Pages:
"A gardener weary of shoveling snow looked to the sky and
cried out..."I've had enough...enough already!" A line in memory crossed the
gardener's path...snow is the poor man's fertilizer. Weight
of the snow quietly lifted. The gardener's smile mirrored daydreams of giant
spring flowering bulbs bursting into prize-winning blossoms. Prolific
roses etched the garden path. Visions of Monet's garden reflected a palette of
color harmony across nature's blanket as far as the eye could see. Ode to the
Imagination! -- Ms. Phyllis Miele, Jan. 21, 2003, Pequossette
Ponderings, Watertown, MA
My
Secret Garden project started as a way to get us through the winter,
but its popularity and obvious other benefits to all visiting here will insure
it's around a long time! Thanks to all of our customers and friends who
have sent us their photos of their favorite gardens spots....Visit here often and look for pictures of your
Angels amidst our pretty flowers.
Dewitt Garden Club, Dewitt, Michigan, 2007
"Life
isn't short if we live it." --
Anne Wilson Schaefs
"He
who cultivates a garden, and brings to perfection flowers and fruits, cultivates
and advances at the same time his own nature." -- Ezra Weston
"Life has ebbs and flows for a reason."
-- Anne Wilson Schaefs
"When the
complexity of life seems overwhelming, trust that your heart will always find
its way." -- Flavia Weedn
"There
are years that ask questions and years that answer." --Zora
Neale Hurston
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*News Beams
* from
the Farm!
From time to time, we will offer web-only specials and publish
short stories about the Farm Dogs or the grandkids, and inspirations from life on the Farm in mid-Michigan, the
American heartland. Seasonally, we will write to help Gardeners grow beautiful Zinnias,
learn how to make a stunning
bouquet, or how to collect precious seed when harvest is here. Let us know
if you would like to receive them.
We have moved our web to a new server and resized all photos for faster load
times. As we approach another winter, I hope
you visit us often to see our pretty pictures and read about the simple things
we love most here. Thanks for being a
customer! -Sharon Baller, President
My Secret Garden
and
pictures their favorite things about their garden. It may be a spot in
full sun, in their in their own back yard, or miles
and miles away in some secluded, mist-touched
glade, where inspiration comes easily,
and tranquility is the mood. At other times, we receive solicitations for
donations of product or services. We like to oblige, especially where the
work is dedicated to "horticulture as therapy." Some of our favorite projects
are listed below with pictures and heartfelt stories to warm your days.
Come wander here when you start to think there may
be no good left in the world. These pages will surely help you
remember..... 
