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Our Winter Garden
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Our summer season’s swiftly gone
deserted by both bees and blooms
Now frost abides biting and cold
within each of our garden rooms
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Our winter morning awakens gray
we rise to see its icy glaze
upon the leaves that still remain
in the garden from our younger days
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Our bodies do betray our minds
yet souls remain as newly born
They age not like the flowering trees
in the garden now bare and forlorn
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Our spring shall not return to us
least while we walk upon this earth
But let’s enjoy what beauty’s left
in the garden of our earthly birth
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Our autumn’s fallen to the ground
covered with winter’s whitest sheet
but it’s not our final resting place
for in God’s garden our hearts He keeps.
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Wendy/2014
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The snow we had received,
just before Christmas,
has now melted under the wash of winter rains.
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When we have had a clear night the temperature drops;
so when I take my little dog out in the morning,
I take frost pictures (as he goes about his business in the dog run).
At about the time my fingers are ready to freeze off,
he barks and we return to the warmth of the house.
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My children are longing for summer.
I don’t blame them as the sun hides behind a blanket of gray
for much of our temperate rain forest winter.
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Beauty can be found in all seasons…
including the seasons of our lives.
We just need to be open,
thankful,
and still enough to notice any loveliness around us.
Spring will come soon enough.
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These snowdrops are popping up,
already,
in anticipation of spring!
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All Seasons Blessings ~ Wendy
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He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has set eternity in the hearts of men;
yet they cannot fathom what God has done
from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
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I love the frost on the greens…so beautiful Wendy. I do agree, beauty can be found in all seasons…I’m just not a fan of the cold… 🙂
Thank you, Heather! I love spring the best; May is marvelous.
There is a reason your blog is one of my favorites….this post shows why!! Thank you, Wendy. It’s a beautiful post. 🙂
Thank you, dear poet friend! I enjoy both your poems & photography, Skye.
Thank you. 🙂 I take that as a real compliment coming from you.
A Wonderful Poem 🙂 Thank You. Hope you Have a Great Weekend!
Blessings on your weekend, too, Morgan!
Beautiful words from Scripture. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
🙂 The Word stands alone.
Lovely images that lifted my spirit!😊
Creation certainly has a way of lifting us. 🙂
Thank you for capturing the beauty of winter! How beautiful is God’s creation!
I appreciate God’s creativeness so much. It praises him continually.
What gorgeous words and photos!! Snowdrops already??? Where are you? We have been in Siberia here with temps in the single digits F. But a thaw is coming. Actually I love winter and miss being out in it– have been sick for the longest time. Hoping to get out and take some photos of the most beautiful season in my eyes.
I am sorry, Ellen, that you have not been able to get out in your ‘Siberian’ weather. It does make for wonderful pictures. We live on mid-Vancouver Island on its east side ( which is the West Coast of Canada. Only just tomorrow is our local ski hill opening due to a very mild winter so far.
All so beautiful, Wendy.
Thanks, Sue. I love getting a closeup of His handiwork.
What wonderful shots, Wendy. They remind me of treats covered in sugar (but that just might be because I am go through holiday-treat withdrawal 🙁 )
Heidi, I will know what you mean by withdrawal, shortly, as my Christmas chocolate just ran out this weekend.
God truly is in the finest of details….beautiful, Wendy! Blessings ~Zoey
Zoey, I was recently awed by a documentary about how amazingly the parts of a microscopic bacteria flagellum are designed. Evidence of our Maker abounds.
Yes, Indeed! Your inspiration is beautifully transparent in your art of photography, Wendy.
“Hope springs eternal”…and so does God’s faithfulness to us in all the seasons of our life. Thank you for the beautiful reflections, Wendy! Blessings ~ Laura
Laura, I am looking forward to eternal spring (I adore May). 🙂
I will second that! 🙂
Wowww great shots
Thanks, Marylou. 🙂
Lovely poem and photos! I love seeing how winter affects the different parts of my bloggers’ worlds. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
I had never fully realized the beauty of winter until getting into photography. Thank you, Natalie.
There is beauty in winter, isn’t there?! I probably didn’t notice it so much until I got into photography either. Now we really look at it looking for the beauty within it, don’t we?! Blessings, Natalie 🙂
Yes, absolutely. Photography has been a blessing in so many ways. Your nature pictures are what first drew me to your blog, and then I discovered your wonderful writing. Have you ever had a book published? Are you familiar with the old devotional book, “Streams in the Desert?” You’d be great at this. I’d love to do this, one day, if it’s meant to be.
Thank you, Wendy, for the kind words. I’ve toyed with the idea of a devotional book but decided blogging is easier. Maybe some day. I am not familiar with “Streams in the Desert,” but I will see if I can get a copy of it. You do a splendid job with your writing and photos, missy. You should consider writing a book for publication yourself. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
The author is Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman the copyright is 1925 🙂 I also have her book: “Springs in the Valley” which I have not read yet; it looks similar.
Oh thanks for that info, Wendy. I do hope I can find a copy of it. 🙂
Yea! I just found “Streams in the Desert” on Amazon and order me a copy. I should get it next week. Thanks for the heads up on it. 🙂
Let me know what you think. Two friends of mine also have a copy now, and I found out my pastor has it in his library. 🙂
Okey, doke, I will start reading it as soon as I get it in the mail. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
Gorgeous photos, Wendy, and an amazing poem. This makes me long for Spring and all the goodness she has tucked inside.
Thank you. I crazily still hope for one more little snowfall… are you rolling your eyes yet? I know your part of Canada has had a REAL winter. I’ve really enjoyed your winter wonderland photos.
What lovely perspective comes through your images and words – very soothing, as always!
Thank you, Melody. I can’t even imagine how you prairie people have survived such severe storms this winter. We’re drowning over here this weekend. 🙂
We can’t imagine it either! 😉 I guess you do what you have to do. I’m sure every people group and every geography has both its challenges and its blessings.
As always Wendy, another stunning post … so much food for thought and such intense photos … thank you that you risked ‘frostbite’ in order to share your special little part of God’s beautiful creation xxx.
Thank you for your kindness, Liana. xo
I like the idea of God having a garden. God bless your weekend, Wendy! love, sis Caddo
Caddo, I often wonder about the perfect garden to come. xo
I think the vibrant colors will nearly knock us out!!
Yes, and the heavenly fragrances too!
Oh YEAH!!!
Your images Wendy are not just photographs, they are also wonderful pieces of art. An absolute joy to look at.
Don, thank you for such a lovely comment! I often think of creation as the ultimate art.
Absolutely gorgeous photos, Wendy xx
Thank you so much, Lyn! 🙂
Awesome!!! Nice pic too!!!
Thank you, dear Rexlin! Blessings for 2014.
Lovely!! Beautiful words of comfort…fantastic photos that I could look at all day! Thank you
Thank you so much! I always hope my posts will give away the joy that creation gives to me.
You have done well in conveying that message….!
Dear Wendy, Beautiful post. Blessings, Ellen
Thank you, dear Ellen.
You are most welcome, Wendy!
Your poems and photos comfort me and bring me a sweet peace . . .something that He infuses your posts and you with! Thank you Wendy, foe always being ready , whatever the season, to share His heart with us.
What a wonderful encouragement you are, Debbie. I could not hope for more than to reveal His “sweet peace.”
Love all the ice/frost on everything. It’s lovely to look at from a far, at least. How lovely to have the snow drops appearing.
Oh, to be as resilient as a snowdrop. They amaze me with what changes and extremes in weather they can endure.
So true.
exquisite! Thank you for bringing us so close to nature and all its wonders!
Thank you for letting me know that you enjoyed the “closeups.” 🙂
Beautiful concept.Green the color of rebirth and life.Thank you fro visiting my weblog.Best regards.jalal
Thank you, Jalal. Yes, that is precisely how I feel about “green.”
I enjoyed these beautiful photos of ice encrusted plants. Your poem offers a perfect accompaniment, Wendy.
Thank you, Mary. It is always a pleasure to have you visit and comment. I hope it was a cool oasis for you during the hot summer that I’ve heard your country is having.
The intricacy of the frost on the edges…breathtaking.♥
Thank you so much, Laurie. I’ve heard that parts of Texas have had some cold spells this winter.
Beautiful! All season’s greetings to you Wendy 🙂
Thank you, dear Camilla. ❁
Beauty can be captured in all seasons, can’t it? 🙂
Canadians get a lot of practice at this, don’t we? 😉 I thought of you, Jennifer, when CBC radio mentioned the storm and power outage happening in your region. I hope you were spared the trouble.
Lovely! A few weeks ago, after our NYC storm came and went, I found – of all things – new cilantro plants under the snow, volunteered by coriander seeds from this summers herb garden. Here’s to a great 2014. —Chagall
Chagall, I love it when flowers and herbs reseed themselves. It’s good to leave seed heads for this reason and for the birds to eat. Blessings for your 2014!
Stunning imagery and beautiful words what a great site you have Wendy.
Thank you, Kath! It was so nice of Jennifer to mention you on her blog so that I could meet another person who loves to write and draw. Good on you for encouraging your kids to as well. I look forward to checking out more of your work.
gorgeous frosty photos and warming words. just lovely! 🙂
Thank you, dear Geraldine; that was a lovely compliment.
Poem, photos and words all beautiful Wendy! Especially “beauty can be found in all seasons…”
Blessings and love
Thank you. dear Christine. I hope that 2014 is full of beauty and blessings for you in each season.
Like always, a beautiful message and photographs! You have a great eye for detail, Wendy.
Thank you, Bill. I appreciate our Father’s creative heart that has made such intricacy and variety in creation. One can’t help but wonder what’s to come?
Beautiful photos, Wendy!
Thank you, Daisy. We’ve been blogger friends for over 18 months now, I think. ♡
Stunning shots. I love how the light catches the ice / frost. Your captions tell me you are a “think positive” / “glass half full” type of person. Thanks for sharing.
A Servant
Thank you for your kind comment. I think focusing on the full half of life is a choice we are wise to make.
Even half is more than I deserve. Praise God for His mercy.
A Servant
Winter looks so beautiful in these pictures Wendy! Especially love the white feather among the frost filled everygreen and brown leaf, such a pretty picture!
Linda, I have lost count of the number of feathers I’ve photographed; there is something so hopeful about them.