Reanimated Lavender Granola Switchblade Nun rides again.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

A Gardener's Breviary

First, take stock of what is in your garden.

All plants are distinct;

Seek the animating spirit in each vine and bloom.

Let them speak to you, in moments of quiet

Before beginning.



Do not stake pansies.

Refrain from flooding roses.

Leave the lotus in the pond--

Do not insist that it grace the sill.



Plans and designs may be made, but must remain flexible;

An unwanted plant may be hardy enough to appear year after year--

Trust its purpose.

Conversely, the most ardently desired flower may fail, despite love and care.

Trust its purpose, too.



When your plants are thirsty,

Water is best.

Vinegar, alcohol, noxious powders, and lye soap will all damage or destroy roots, stems and blooms.

Pruning, trimming and thinning can be beneficial if done judiciously,

But remember,

Everything will grow towards the sun,

And in its own time and shape.

Individuals of a common variety still differ in some particulars.

Fence out foragers.

Weed regularly.



Everything given to a garden, it will give back.

Does it matter if the sunflower blooms for you, or for the jay?

Keep soil turned, and loose.

Remove grubs and worms.

It is all right to save cuttings; a vase for your table or bedside will please for days.

Most things, even lovely things, are temporal, not eternal.

Beauty is holy.

Real love is never wasted.

Above all,

Remember that tending is not the same as owning.

Good luck and happy gardening.

_________

written for magpie 26

art by Gustav Klimt

__________

43 comments:

  1. Do you know Shay, this post today lets me see why I came back here yesterday to visit. The absolute truth here:

    This is the most spiritually all-encompassing instructions for living ever which I have read outside of a Big Blue Book I own and use.

    Trust the purpose! Oh! I pray to become not a weed, but if it must be so, trust the purpose...all in the plan of the Great Gardener.

    Thank You, Shay.
    Peace.

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  2. Water is best and everything grows towards the sun...in its own time, right?

    I love this one, Shay.

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  3. Do away with most child rearing books and simply hand this to new parents.

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  4. "...tending is not the same as owning." - wise words, Shay! and a distinction not often made.

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  5. Such clear instructions! And yet, at the ame time, pure poetry. And what important messages!

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  6. Impressive.
    Gardening instruction and poetry.
    It works!

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  7. I'll lay off on the rubbing alcohol with my tomatoes :)

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  8. Wow. And wow.

    This is a different side of you, to my eyes and heart.

    Blows me away.

    Shoot, no beer whilst I prune and weed? ;0

    xo

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  9. You've packed plenty of profound ponderings in here:
    "Trust its purpose"
    "Most things, even lovely things, are temporal, not eternal".
    "Beauty is holy".
    "Real love is never wasted".
    "Remember that tending is not the same as owning".
    - and many more....
    The lessons of life.

    Great stuff. Thank you.

    Take care.
    All the best, Boonsong

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  10. Shay you are beautiful. This poem is a garden in itself. I love this way of looking at all that grows and lives and needs its space. :)

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  11. you make gardening sound like a lot of work! lol! beautiful poem though, filled with thought provoking lines.

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  12. Like Talon, I love the lines "tending is not the same as owning." Exactly.

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  13. Everything will grow towards the sun. Really enjoyed this sentiment. It's a good thing to remember. Great Magpie.

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  14. I'm keeping a copy of this
    it's wonderful!

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  15. Magical and wisdom-filled words from a Master Gardener / writer.
    Lovely Magpie!

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  16. my jannie was rite. this is one amazzing poem.

    gardins iz my speshilty, so this speeks deep to my hart and sole!

    wit loves
    me

    bb
    ox

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  17. Bravo!
    "Remember that tending is not the same as owning."
    More please,
    xo jj

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  18. I love the grave playful gravity of your words, Shay





    Aloha from Honolulu-Ville :)

    Comfort Spiral

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  19. "Tending is not the same as owning." What amazing words! If we'd just all remember that.

    www.angiemuresan.com

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  20. Bravi, bravi, bravissimi! This is beautiful Shay. So much so that I'm not even going to make the comment that I'd be better served to forage than attempt to garden. (I could kill a plastic cactus, I swear.)

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  21. I agree my dear "real love is never wasted"....

    Lovely piece my illustrious friend

    Happy Weekend

    Throwing moon dust sprinkles your way and smiling

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  22. I especially love "tending is not the same as owning". And the Klemt is the perfect image to accompany.

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  23. Wonderfully wise writing with lovely lyrical lines!

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  24. This is really beautiful and earthy, and it is very true. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my forages to stay out of the orchard tonight so that I can fix the fence tomorrow.

    Teresa

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  25. Your blog-bud will be able to report to you that steveroni is a genuine gentleman--I promise that. At the same time, I'm always excited at the prospect of meeting face-to-face a blogger friend.

    Thank you for your visit, Shay.

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  26. I have forgotten that I love gardening too! Thanks you for the reminder, Shay...Lovely!

    Everything will grow towards the sun!

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  27. nice shay...tening is not the same as owning...and each grows toward the sun...and ints own time and way...lots got great little seed scattered throughout your garden...

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  28. No wonder I have such a black thumb! Gardening is WORK! :)

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  29. Written by a true gardener. I would like to stick this on my fridge, with your permission :) Great Magpie.

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  30. Wonderful you choose to share here. Living experience speaks volumes. Living vicariously through others is only a guide. Existing in the physical world does not come with an instruction book. And yet, universal lessons present themselves in forms and situations that are understood by those who choose to raise self-awareness. To be open and awakening is to begin to recall inner knowing and to remember the path back to infinite consciousness.

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  31. This one will touch everyone .. and its SO true ..

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  32. this is wonderful, i just watered my garden a little while ago, and everything is just growing crazy, -- i am not one for design in a garden your post just made me feel so good, i love the wildness - even the leaves a weeds have their place - its beauty is in the wonder that it places in our heart--perfect magpie...bkm

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  33. I agree with whoever said above that this would be an excellent text to send home with new parents. "Trust the purpose" is one of my many favorites here. Absolutely wonderful piece,

    Elizabeth

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  34. What fantastic tips and care guide via Magpie! Maybe NOW I'll grow something right!!

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  35. See, this is why I can never manage to have a successful garden. I just can't follow the rules. I did better raising children.

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Spirit, what do you wish to tell us?