~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Garden in Waiting
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I heard the garden
call my name
There’s chores to do
and shrubs to train
Pruning vines and roses too
There’s ever-so-much
I need to do!
But I remember
not long ago
when babies were growing
I kept them in tow
My garden was planted
and harvested late
because children grow fast
and cannot wait.
Wendy/2013
I have no regrets for lowering my standards in the garden while the kids were little. Now they help out with some of the garden work. Each of them had their own little plot for planting things they wanted. Sweet memories were sown! Do you have special garden memories from your childhood?
Garden Blessings ~ Wendy
PS – There’s nothing like flashy flowers for warding off the winter blues! These are from our garden last year.
This was sweet. And those pictures really are remarkable.
Thank you! These are my favorite peonies.
Blessings dear new friend ~ Wendy 🙂
Just one word – LOVELY! Soo radiant!!
Thank you! Flowers are smile makers…
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
My garden is calling too.. I got most of it bedded down for winter, but the weather beat me to the last bit.. and i have fences to paint too. meanwhile… I am busy editing 🙂
Sue, the birds like it when we leave part of the garden as is for the winter since they eat the seeds. I clean mine out when things look too downtrodden to be left any longer.
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Oh bedding it down for the winter always means leaving enough for the wildlife. The birds, insects and small things need somewhere to hide. Even though I live in a very rural area, it is surprising what snuggles down in the garden for the winter. 🙂
I noticed rabbit droppings left in exchange for some bluebell foliage in our flower border. As long as the flowers don’t suffer I guess it’s a fair trade.
🙂
golly, the pink flower is so pretty but you did not give it a name, Nice poem to go with your garden post.
You are right – I forgot to put peony in the tags, also! Peonies are tied with roses as some of my favorite flowers.
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Ahhh…the promise of warmer days in these photos. Lovely post!
Thank you, Jennifer! I know that you have had some fierce weather on the east coast this winter… We got some blue skies, today, after over three weeks of gray! 🙂
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
These are beautiful! Can’t wait until gardens start blooming. Love the photos!
Thank you, Heather! I just have snowdrops blooming so far.
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Thanks for that beautiful poem! My favorite childhood garden memories? … going out to the garden in the evening, picking some fresh tomatoes, some radishes, chives, and having tomato sandwiches… sitting together as a family and enjoying such a very simple meal… thanks for making me think 🙂
Oh Heidi, that memory sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing it. I love fresh garden tomato sandwiches!!
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Beautiful photos and lovely, wise poem, Wendy!
Thank you, Maria! There is an old classic poem about leaving housework because of the priorities of babies – but for me the hardest thing to leave had been the garden. 🙂 ‘All’s well that ends well!’
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Yes, all is well, then…
Wendy, you asked about garden memories from childhood. I remember my Grandmom’s tiny strip of garden, and two rock gardens (up front and at the back) at her semi-detached home. She always had peonies and roses. I love both of these flowers. Grandmom also grew tomatoes and parsley. There was a prickly hedge on a tiny decline between her house and the house next door. I fell into it! Ouch!
:0)
Have a blessed day!
Ouch! You’ve just reminded me that rose pruning time is coming up soon! 😉 It’s not my favorite task…
:0)
Oooh – today was totally a peony day!! I needed that…
I get the impression that we northerners aren’t the only ones having thoughts of spring. Melody, we had a blue sky today!!! 🙂
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy
Yahoo – blue sky is worth celebrating! 🙂
A garden is a special place… even more so when the kids enjoy it also. 🙂 Beautiful photos.
Thank you, Daisy! I sure have cute pictures of their young garden years…
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Wonderful flowers! Beautiful!
Peonies are thornless roses to me. Thank you!
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy 🙂
Wow, beautiful flower!!! Excellent shot!!!
Thank you, Rexlin!
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
beautiful
Thank you!
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy 🙂
I’m always blessed by your photos and words, Wendy–thank you so much! Alas, I’m not so good with plants–I have no garden, since I live in an apartment; but I have 4 houseplants. One took a tumble about a month ago–I’ve been coaxing it to “thrive anyway”, in our Holy Spirit atmosphere! Love to you, sis Caddo
Thank you, Caddo! Hugs! I only grow easy plants in the house as I tend to forget about them. Once I’m outside more then they are really on their own…
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Afternoon from Oz! Wendy-Lee they are so beautiful and I adore pink. Pink anything!!
Hugs Paula xx
Hi Paulama! I love pink flowers too! It’s Friday night here -so I guess it’s Saturday morning at your place? Hope you are having a peaceful and fun weekend so far. Ours is a long weekend. Hugs!
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
I remember always planting Verbena with my dad. Whenever I see these little flowers my mind goes back to hot spring afternoons of planting with him.
Thank you for sharing that as you just brought back a pleasant memory… It was my dad that taught me the proper way to plant just by me watching him. He always put water in the planting hole before placing the plant in.
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy 🙂
This was like a balm for my soul, Wendy .. .just seeing those beautiful peonies. And thinking about the kids not being able to wait either .. .letting them garden too. You are such a lovely and gentle encourager! Hugs and blessings!
Thank you, Debbie! Hugs! The kids favorite thing to grow is sugarsnap peas and shelling peas since you can eat them right out in the garden…
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
I miss the peonies in my Midwestern garden. They would always bloom around the Indy 500 / Memorial Day. People would go and tend to their family’s headstones, fresh bundles of peonies adorning them like pom-poms. There was something really beautiful in the way that people used to bring a bit of their gardens to the gravesites. The markers didn’t seem so lonely. Those that had passed on didn’t seem forgotten.
<3
Nina, I agree that there is something beautiful about seeing handpicked flowers at a gravesite. I have placed some myself when I visit my hometown.
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Wonderful pictures Wendy, they make me long for the summer! 🙂 And I love peonies, they’re so beautiful and romantic…
Thank you, Calee! I love all things romantic, floral, and country cottage…
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Thank you for the poem that encouraged me to keep pouring myself into my family first. My little ones are the blossoms I tend, the shoots I water, the petals I admire. I’m pretty much the opposite of a green thumb in an actual garden, but I love the analogies of gardening as they apply to mothering. I pray for fertile soil in their young hearts; I pray over the seeds of faith that are sown; I rejoice when I see little buds appearing, turning their faces God-ward!
Life continues to be exciting and full of possible/likely changes soon! I like to think of this as an “incubation” period in our family’s life, to set the stage for incredible growth! I am itching to write more openly about all that’s going on, but until certain details fall into place, let’s just say we are praying and waiting with hopeful hearts!
I pray you’ve had a lovely week, close to God, and that you have a refreshing weekend with your family! I’m looking forward to that myself! Blessings–Alison
Alison, guess what the holiday Monday is called that we’re having this long weekend? “Family Day” It will seem extra special since my husband has been out of town part of this week and is now back. 🙂 The kids have been inviting friends over so our house is happy and full.
I look forward to hearing an update when you are able…
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
gorgeous photos Wendy…yes I do have fond memories of a garden my son had when he was small…we had such a wonderful time planting, tending and then eating, I also have fond memories of my grandson helping me with my gardens when he was younger, he was always wanting to help…it is truly a great way to spend time with a child. Thank you for reminding me! 🙂
Heather, you’ve reminded me that I get to possibly do the garden thing with grandchildren one day. 🙂 Even if I just send seeds in the mail – that will be something.
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Wendy, this is such a touching post…although my nest is quite empty now, my heart is full of precious memories. Blessings to you, sweet lady! ~ Marsha
P.S. The flowers are gorgeous!
Marsha, my full quiver season is still very much happening… They had friends over, today, so it was happily overflowing. I plan to write a lot more and do more art and photography etc. when the halls have a silent echo here. I’m not in a hurry – but nor am I dreading it.
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Dear wendy, I have nominated you for the very inspiring blogger award:
http://writeonheidi.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/award-time/
Thank you for the beautiful photos and poems!
Thank you, Heidi, for the nomination and congratulations on your award! Although I do not participate in awards anymore I still like to do a thank you post periodically for my friends who nominate me.
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy xo
Thank you Wendy! 🙂
Blessings Arjun ~ Wendy 🙂
Can’t wait for spring! Thanks for a wonserful reminder to ALWAYS put first things first! Lord bless you Wendy
Thank you, Pastor Rob. I can’t wait for spring too…
Blessings dear friend ~ Wendy 🙂