Thursday, February 5, 2009

A Promise in My Garden

The promise of Spring hangs heavy in the air.

Come away with me for a meander through the fields
Before the forecast storm flies over the mountain,
Bathing some in rain, blanketing others in snow,
Reminding all that winter remains our host a bit longer.

My garden beckons with early-rising posies.

Daffodils pop up here and there
according to the whim of my trowel,

Laced with a generous dotting of grape hyacinth.

Some camellias swell with soon-to-be splendor,

Whilst others dance merrily in fully-ruffled regalia.

This gem, "Nuccio's Pearl," sways shyly in the shadows.

Clematis leaves peek from behind tangles of last-summer's vining,

While the tea olive whispers of heady fragrance to come.

The rich ruby eyes of the peony, a summertime star, flutter awake

And another outcropping of daffs cheer on the emerging iris.

Miss Rosemary sings year round in my temperate clime,

But Miss Malus Floribunda
Must rest and restore her florid abundance,
Which earns her the title of Garden Diva.
When this luscious crabapple bursts into bloom
She steals the springtime spotlight.

The gentle blossoms of my flowering apricot dance
Against the emerald evergreens and sapphire-blue sky.

Oh look! The queen of the garden awakes,
Stretching ruby new growth in the warmth of the day.

What's this?
Yet ANOTHER blossom crowns Miss Mardi Gras?
Does this girl ever tire?

As she has only been in residence since last spring,
Dare I hope she will dance
Throughout each forthcoming year,
Without pause,
As she has done this calendar past?

YES! I dare hope!

Upon the deck, snuggled close to the house,
I espy last year's clan of pelargonium.
Celebrating with summer's fire in their hearts,
Strong stems rise up in defiance of Winter --
Empowered by the fortress of home.




Let's pause for a moment on our gentle journey
And enjoy the quietness.

All too soon the boughs will host feathered family reunions,
Each shrub and stem crying out for notice,
With the trees offering percussion to the full-bodied season.

Summer will arrive all too swiftly
Carrying away this peaceful waking moment.

So for today I shall sit and enjoy the quietude
Of a single dancing daffodil,
A gentle waft of hyacinth on the breeze,
And the Promise of Spring.

Won't you join me?

* * * * *


Written in March


THE cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing,
The small birds twitter,
The lake doth glitter
The green field sleeps in the sun;
The oldest and youngest
Are at work with the strongest;
The cattle are grazing,
Their heads never raising;
There are forty feeding like one!

Like an army defeated
The snow hath retreated,
And now doth fare ill
On the top of the bare hill;
The plowboy is whooping- anon-anon:
There's joy in the mountains;
There's life in the fountains;
Small clouds are sailing,
Blue sky prevailing;
The rain is over and gone!



~~ William Wordsworth ~~

10 comments:

sukipoet said...

Thank you for this lovely tour of your spring garden. All those blossoms!!! Here it will be months before we see such sights. And thanks for the poem too. Enjoy the beauty you are surrounded with.

dawn klinge said...

Your spring garden is beautiful. It will be a while before I see flowers in my yard. Thank you for sharing these lovely words and photos with us.

Kathy said...

oooohhhhh, I love the garden and the tour. I visit often but many times neglect to say, "good morning, Debbie". You inspire me to get busy planting, I have been somewhat discouraged by how many of my last year's flowers were devoured by deer. Maybe now with my two terrifying guard dogs on patrol, the deer will detour. We're looking forward to the storm on the way, the rest of this family is hoping to see some snow at the log house.

FancyHorse said...

There is hope and encouragement here! Thank you!

farmlady said...

What a lovely journey through your awakening garden. I always feel a kinship with you and your place because I live in the same general area. California is it's most beautiful in late Winter into Spring. We are so fortunate to live in such a magical place.

The rain cometh..., finally. Enjoy it all. It will make our summer easier I hope.

Karen said...

Now I'm longing for spring! If only that Phil wouldn't have predicted more snow. But I can dream.

Karen Deborah said...

WOW already? Looks lovely to me. We have been doing tree pruning and clean up. The daffodils are up and some narcissus too. March is right around the corner isn't it, and with it all the splendor of spring.

imbeingheldhostage said...

Beautiful.

What a strange little planet we live on that you are enjoying signs of spring while we play in the snow.

We do have daffodils peaking their shoots up, but they're always confused here.

Thanks for the break from chaos :-)

tiarastantrums said...

hey - it's not spring yet!!

Seán said...

Be glad to join you! I especially like the photo of what looks like daffodils under an old bench. That will be very lovely soon.

Yesterday I got a cheque for 300 euros to buy plants and shrubs to plant around the estate I live in. It's too early yet to plant anything but I am looking forwards to it.

Even though I have a small garden, I have decided to work on the areas in our estate and make the place more beautiful. When a Christian moves into an area, I think there should be an improvement, so I hope to improve the area by picking up the rubbish, planting beautiful plants and praying for my neighbours!!!