"Flowers respond to something in the gardener's face ~ Some secret in the heart, some special grace." ~ E. B. White, "To my American Gardener, with Love"

Dahlia ~ American Beauty

Good morning, sweet friends.  I hope this finds you enjoying these autumn days.  We have had lovely weather, although we are in desperate need of rain.  The past few autumn seasons have been dry, resulting in less than our normal magnificent fall foliage.   Our trees are golden, but the vibrant red and orange still have not arrived.  Anyway, I will not bore you with our weather details.

As the autumn season is now with us and it is once again time to put the garden to bed, I want to share a piece from a book that I treasure.   The title of the book is, A Garden's Grace (see note at the end of the post) and it was written by Nancy Hutchens, published in 1997.  As a child, Ms. Hutchens spent many days with her grandmother, Mamaw Tribby.  Mamaw Tribby lived on a farm in the mid-west and was quite a gardener.  Together, they enjoyed gathering fruits and vegetables, pulling weeds, planting flowers and trees, doing things gardeners do. 

Yes, Mamaw Tribby taught her granddaughter valuable gardening lessons.  And, little did I know that when I picked up this treasured book, Hutchens and Mamaw Tribby would teach me as well.

Last night, there came a frost, which has done great damage to my garden. . . It is sad that Nature will play such tricks with us poor mortals, inviting us with sunny smiles to confide in her, and then, when we are entirely within her power, striking us to the heart. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

The following are the words of Nancy Hutchens ~ When I was a girl it was my job to rake leaves in the fall, just about the time school started, bringing with it activities much more interesting than leaf raking.  I postponed the chore time and again ~ until it was too late.  Big, dry flashes of snow started falling early in November one year and didn't stop until over a foot had accumulated.  This severe weather continued every weekend throughout the autumn.  All winter I looked out on a yard encrusted with caked and soggy leaves caused by my procrastination.

Mamaw Tribby said this experience should teach me one of the most important lessons a gardener can learn ~ nature waits for no one.  We think we can control her, but all we can do is follow her lead.   As we puttered in her flower beds, she'd say, "People are in awe of nature when they first start gardening and follow all the rules.  The trouble starts when they get cocky and think they can do things at their own convenience."

I hope you have enjoyed a bit of wisdom from A Garden's Grace.  Perhaps you have received a gentle nudge to make sure your garden is tucked in for her winter's nap, a nudge not to let your 'leaves get soggy.' And a nudge not forget to gather lovely little things to use in preparing your gifts from the heart (the holidays are approaching).  In thinking of 'gifts from the heart,' I find Mamaw Tribby's words so touching and I hope you will too. "Gifts tied with silver ribbon, son are prized the whole world over.  But, through the years, I remember the scent of fragrant, crumbled clover."

 

"Did I take time out to laugh, to love, to think, to see, to pray"  These are the thoughts that cross my mind at the closing of the day." ~ Mamaw Tribby

 

 

 

 

Dear friends, know I wish you and yours a beautiful day. 

And. . .

May the week ahead bring you joy.  Stay well!

 

Amour,

Sandra

 

 

 

Note:  Should you be so fortunate to find a copy of "A Garden's Grace,"  by all means, grab the book.  Especially if you are interested in gardening.  It is not only a delightful read, it is full of worthy seasonal gardening information.

Images:  Via Tumblr, Pinterest, and Swan Island Dahlias