“Literature and butterflies are the two sweetest passions known to man.” ~ Vladimir Nabokov

Good Sunday morning, dear friends.  It is a pretty morning here in our West Virginia hills.  Hopefully, it is where you are as well. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could stop time,  for just a few days?  It passes way too quickly and in a blink, it will be autumn.  But meanwhile, let us enjoy this season.  To me,  one of the sweetest things to accompany summer is the butterfly.  They are beautiful, delightful to watch, and bring us smiles.  

“Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life.  And everyone deserves a little sunshine.” ~ Jeffrey Glassberg

Melanargia galathea / le Demi-Deuil (mâle / male) a species of Lepidoptera ~ Causse Méjean, France.

Argynnis pandora, Le Cardinal (Femelle, Female). ~ Causse Méjean, France.

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” ~ Maya Angelou

“…and when all the wars are over, a butterfly will still be beautiful.” ~ Ruskin Bond

Dear friends, I hope my amazing little garden buddies have brought you a few rays of sunshine as you begin your day.

And…

“May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun and find your shoulder to light on.  To bring you luck, happiness, and riches today, tomorrow and beyond.” ~ Irish Blessing

Have a beautiful day! 

Amour,

Sandra

Images:  via tumblr

“That place where wildflowers wrote summer stories.” ~ unknown

Good morning, beautiful souls.  Summer is marching along and our hillsides in West Virginia are bursting with wildflower bloom.  They turn an ordinary trip to the store into a sweet sight-seeing adventure.  To me, they are a sign of hope and one of the ‘simple things of life’ I enjoy.  

“There are butterflies here.  Watch how they dance from wildflower to wildflower in a nectar~fuelled trance. 

Fluttering, fitting, lightly they live. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have wings and think only of wildflowers.” ~ Ellis Nightingale, Wildflowers 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail enjoying Wild Bergamot.

“Where hope grows, miracles blossom.” ~ Elna Rae

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we… see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places~and there are so many~where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.  And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory…” ~ Howard Zinn

Dear friends, while each of our lives and our communities is unique.  We are all struggling to deal with the virus and the non-ending bad news.  However, I know we are also struggling to keep life as safe and normal as we possibly can, for ourselves and those we love.  And, there are different things that help each of us cope.  Whatever that may be for you, stay with it.   

And…

May, little snippets of beauty greet you at your every turn.  Notice them, they are there just for you. 

Stay well! 

“The Amen of nature is always a flower.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Amour,

Sandra

Images: via tumblr

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.”  ~ Robert D. San Souci 

Good Sunday morning, beautiful souls.  I do hope this finds you well and that the past week was a good one.

Considered a weed by many, although I can’t imagine such, poppies brighten our days with their blooms and also by where they decide to grow.  They enjoy scattering their seeds by the wind and are quite happy being allowed to grow in the spots ‘they’ choose.  To be as delicate as they seem, poppies are a tough plant and grow in rocky places and under adverse conditions.  I have no idea where the photo above was taken.  But it doesn’t appear to be too cheerful.  However, the bright red poppy grows as a sign of hope and beauty in the cold stone.

It has been said, “Poppies refuse to grow where they are not welcome.”  I am always so excited to see them every spring and I believe they know it.  It is such fun to see where they decide to grow in our garden.  Our poppy seeds traveled many miles to their new home in West Virginia.  They are from a friend in France.

“Hope always blooms.” ~ Amy Neftzger

In thinking of plants that grow and bloom in ‘adversity,’  I have also given much thought to brave people who have bloomed during terrible times, in horrid conditions.  People whose lives were in the hands of evil and in spite of it all, they managed to inspire and care for others.    

Currently, in our world, our conditions are far from good.  Our lives have been turned upside down by the Coronavirus and we are terribly saddened by the unrest at home and in our world.  However, there remain many good people and good things happening.  And, for me, it is important to pause a moment and remember them.

“Bloom as if you want to make the whole world beautiful.” ~ Debasish Mridha

Dear friends, among you, are fellow bloggers, virtual friends, and my precious friends of many years.  To me, you are all a gift and a part of the good in our world.  I want you to know what an inspiration you are by the comments you leave on my blog as well as your private messages.  I am certain you also inspire others.   Truly, I am grateful to all of you and I send a huge ‘thank you’ for your goodness.

Know that you, indeed, make the ‘world beautiful.’  

 Have a perfectly glorious day and a lovely week ahead! 

Stay well. 

“Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything –
It’s how the light gets in.” ~ Leonard Cohen, Anthem

Amour,

Sandra

Images:  via tumblr, Michael S. Lambiotte

“Kindness changes the world one heart at a time.” ~ Mary Davis

Good morning, dear friends.  I do hope everyone enjoyed a lovely and peaceful Fourth of July.  But most of all, I hope this finds you well.

“People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” ~ Nelson Mandela

In thinking of a topic for this post, my mind wandered to the many celebrations of our freedom held this weekend.  I thought, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all across our beautiful country we could celebrate America as a nation known for its generosity, kindness,  love, and respect shown to all.”  “From the mountains to the prairies and to the oceans.”

Honestly, I don’t have my head in the sand.  I am just weary, as I know you are also,  of the hate and meanness in our world.  It is everywhere, but if we could clean up our own back yard we would set an example for others.  Our nation and her citizens are still trying to heal from past wounds.  It takes effort and attention to close a wound.  It will not heal itself.    America has, however, always extended its hand to our neighbors, spoken out for those without a voice, and offered hope to the forgotten.  But, what has happened to us?  Hateful speech, vulgar language, and dreadful behavior are things that have become all too commonplace in our country.  And, often, our neighbors and the downtrodden of this world no longer seem to matter.  I do know our country cannot save the entire world.  However, there is an old saying ~ “If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.”  Have we?

“Before the seed there comes the thought of bloom.” ~ E. B. White

To me, E.B. White is correct.  Perhaps, we need to imagine our country in “bloom,” before we “sow the seeds.”  But, we must do something and soon.  Because “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.  Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ~ His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

Dear friends, know I am wishing you and yours a beautiful and peaceful day.  Do continue to take care with regard to the Coronavirus.

And…

May you find love and kindness along your path.  

“Keep your eyes lifted high upon the sun ~ and you will see the best light in everyone.” ~ Tess Guinery

Amour,

Sandra

Images:  via tumblr

“If you wish to make anything grow, you must understand it, and understand it in a very real sense. ‘Green fingers’ are a fact, and a mystery only to the unpracticed. But green fingers are the extensions of a verdant heart.” ~ Russell Page

Good Sunday morning, beautiful souls.  I do hope this finds everyone continuing to be well.   

“At the heart of gardening there is a belief in the miraculous.” ~ Mirabel Osler

This week, as I was going through my many pages of quotes and writings, I came across the opening quote by Russel Page.  About gardening and “green fingers.”  I had to laugh and it gave me a great memory of my dear mom.  As many of you may know, mom was an avid gardener, and a talented one as well.  She once had a friend who was visiting her garden say, “Louise, I do believe you could put a broom handle in the ground and it would sprout and grow.”  Mom and I laughed over those words many times.

Narcissus, Rip van Winkle (double heirloom)

But, as you might imagine, there is more to this story.  Now, the virus hasn’t caused me to take leave of my senses and I know it is a bit early to be thinking of spring blooms.  However, let me explain.  In the very early spring of this year, probably mid-March, Mike and I were in the garden and were looking for a daffodil we knew we needed to move because it was not getting enough sun, which should have been done last fall.  This daffodil is special to us as it had been on his grandparent’s farm in Pennsylvania.  The daffodil is named Rip van Winkle, an heirloom daffodil.  ‘Rip,’ as we call him, takes a little getting used to, but he does grow on you and has gorgeous green shading.  He looks like someone who is having a really bad hair day.  Anyway, on this spring day, good fortune was with us and we found Rip.  I reached down to put a stick in the ground marking its location and came into the house and didn’t give Rip another thought. 

A new Annabelle hydrangea marking daffodil, Rip van Winkle.

Until, one nice warm April day Mike came into the house and said, “Sandra, you are certainly your mother’s daughter.”  Of course, I wanted to know what prompted that remark and so he replied, “Remember that stick you put in the ground to mark the location of Rip?”  “It was a broken hydrangea stick and it has leaves coming from it and it has taken root.”  We both laughed and off to the garden we went to inspect the ‘stick.’  Now, I couldn’t have started a hydrangea using this method if I had tried, but there it was, a new Annabelle hydrangea with leaves and it was taking root.  

Annabelle hydrangeas in our garden.

“My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant’s point of view.” ~ H. Fred Ale

Nikko Blue Hydrangeas in our garden, just beginning to turn blue.

Do I believe there are folks with green fingers or green thumbs?  Perhaps, I’m not certain.  But I do believe there are folks who, have suffered the loss of treasured plants, outwitted all sorts of destructive creatures,  endured the wrath of Mother Nature, and even with all of this,  pushed on to become outstanding gardeners.  Why does one pursue such madness?  It is all about the love of beauty and the feeling one has when they have a hand in bringing such beauty to life.  It is the enormous sense of satisfaction that one receives from being rewarded by their hours of work and care, and it is the magnificent peace one has while in the garden.  It is also about memories that will last a lifetime.

“I have found, through years of practice, that people garden in order to make something grow; to interact with nature; to share, to find sanctuary, to heal, to honor the earth, to leave a mark.  Through gardening, we feel whole as we make our personal work of art upon our land.” ~ Julie Moir Messervy

Poppies from France, blooming in our garden.

Dear friends, I hope you have enjoyed your visit.  Know I wish you and yours a beautiful day.

And…

May your week ahead be filled with lovely moments and kind people.

Amour,

Sandra

Note:  Should you have a fondness for the Rip van Winkle daffodil he is available through Old House Gardens which specializes in heirloom bulbs and plants.

Images:  Michael S. Lambiotte, tumblr, Old House Gardens Catalogue

“A gardening friend of mine has quite lost her mind ~ not that it distresses her much ~ and she no longer makes an effort to conceal her madness.” ~ Henry Mitchell

Photo in our garden.  By, Andy Walker, Walker Media

Good Sunday morning, beautiful souls.  I do hope this finds everyone well.  Lately, while enjoying time in our garden, I find myself reflecting on the many treasured gardening friends I have been fortunate to make over the years.  Gardeners form a deep bond of friendship through their shared love of the earth, creating beauty and growing lovely things.  These friendships bring about interesting tales of success and failure, as well as things gardeners do upon finding themselves on the garden path. Some of which, non-gardeners may well consider a “bit off plumb,” as Mike would say.  However, I want to share a couple of these tales this morning and I hope they will begin your day with a smile.

“Gardeners, I think, dream bigger dreams than emperors.” ~ Mary Cantwell

Antique rose blooming in our garden.

Linda, one of my dear gardening friends had been watching a home in her neighborhood she had long admired.  She had heard through the grapevine the house and property may soon be for sale.  The owner of the home was from Russia and her only child was her daughter who lived in Washington state.  Quite a distance from coastal Virginia. 

One evening Linda was out for her daily walk and there it was ~ the ‘For Sale’ sign.  Quickly, she ran home, got in her car, and drove back to the house.  In front of the house, she grabbed the sign, placed it in her trunk, and went home.  Then,  she immediately called the realtor, confessed her sin, and requested to see the home the next morning ~ early.  The home was charming but it was the garden Linda was after.  The garden sloped down to a lovely creek and was full of azaleas and many other beauties.  Namely sequoia trees.  Now, one does not normally see these magnificent trees in Virginia, but they were thriving in this beautiful garden.  The lady from Russia was a brilliant gardener.

Needless to say, Linda and her husband purchased the house on the spot.  It is wonderful when a beautiful and loved garden can be turned over to another gardener who will also love and care for the beauty and appreciate the work which has been done before it became theirs.

“Out of gardens grow fleeting flowers but lasting friendships.” ~Beverly Rose Hopper  

Rosa, New Dawn

My next little tale is about my wonderful and unique gardening friend, Anne.  It is impossible for this world to hold another Anne like this one.  She has a sense of humor that is unmatched,  loves life, is a mom to two sweet little boys (now sweet young men), is unbelievably talented, and above all, is so very real.  Truly, she would never make an effort to “conceal her madness.”  And, I hope she never does,  as it is such a part of her charm. 

Anne, Max (on left) and Wes ( on right).

Before Anne and I retired we were ‘partners in crime’ in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Department of Human Resources.  To say the least, those were some stressful times.  We helped each other to remain sane and our gardens helped us too.  However, there was additional stress on Anne.  She was going through a ‘difficult’ divorce.  But through it all,  every day I was greeted with her huge smile and something that I always had to figure out later (I am one of those people who gets the joke long after it is told).

One summer evening around 10:00 p.m. I received a call from Anne, “Sandie are you still up?”  Anne was on her way over to our house.  She only lived a few miles from us.  When I saw her coming up the driveway, I turned on all the outside lights.  I wondered what she was up to.  When she arrived by our back porch, out jumped Anne and she slid the doors to her van wide open.  And, what did my eyes see?  Nothing but plants.  The van was exploding with plants and a huge variety of plants.  I said to her, “Anne, what in the world have you done?”  She answered, “He might get  the house, but he will never have my garden.”  Anne had dug up her entire garden, leaving only the holes where plants once were and brought her garden to me for safekeeping.

All of Anne’s plants were on sheets (she had thought ahead).  The two of us drug them around to the side of the house where my garden was and I spent the next few days hilling in her plants, watering them until she would be able to take them to her new home, and her ‘soon to be’ new garden.  One of these plants was her beautiful New Dawn Rose.  She had to cut this rose back considerably to dig and move it.  If you have ever grown a New Dawn in the south you know how massive it can get.  This rose is a magnificent specimen but she has tremendously large canes and even larger thorns.  Anne’s arms and legs clearly showed she was determined to win the struggle of moving this beauty (more like a beast).  

I am happy to say, in spite of this difficult season,  Anne’s life took a lovely turn with a good man, and she continues to garden.  Currently, she is involved in creating fairy gardens with two little girls who live next door.  She lives happily.

Photo of Fairy Garden, by Anne.

“I like gardening. It’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself.” ~  Alice Sebold 

Out in the garden, out in the windy, swinging dark, under the trees and over the flower-beds, over the grass and under the hedge border, someone is sweeping, sweeping, some old gardener.  Out in the windy, swinging dark, someone is secretly putting in order, someone is creeping, creeping. ~ Katherine Mansfield, Out in the Garden, 1922

Dear friends, I hope you have enjoyed your visit and my gardening tales.  

Know, I am wishing you and yours a beautiful day.

  And…

Should you find yourself on the garden path, may it bring you many smiles, only the best of memories,

and friends you will want to “hold with both your hands”.

“Hold a true friend with both your hands.” ~ Nigerian Proverb  

Amour,

Sandra

Note:  I have many more garden tales and will share them from time-to-time.

Images:  Fairy Garden, by Anne.  Other images:  Michael S. Lambiotte, Andy Walker, and Jackson and Perkins catalog.

Good Sunday morning, dear friends.  I hope this finds everyone well and under blue skies.  We have been enjoying some lovely weather the past few days.  And as I write this, with the office window open, the smell of the honeysuckle on the arbor is glorious.  I wish I could add the fragrance to this post for you to also enjoy, but perhaps the photo will stir your imagination. 

Definitely, I agree with Flora Turrill, other than I prefer coffee in the morning.  But, the beverage choice doesn’t matter.  The pleasure is to enjoy it, if possible, with the “birds, trees, and bumbling bees.” 

One lesson the virus has taught us is, I believe most of us have learned the difference between what we want and what we need.  Certainly, I truly have.  And, I have always been a believer that all things happen for a reason and I don’t feel the virus was any different.  Perhaps, we needed to be reminded of a few matters of importance.  Such as ~ the simple things, the small joys that touch our hearts, and provide us with wonderful memories.  

“For me, wildflowers are joy-giving. They have enriched my life and fed my soul and given beautiful memories to sustain me.” ~ Lady Bird Johnson

I have always loved wildflowers and they are abundant in our West Virginia hills.  Perhaps you enjoy them too.  Every area of our land is rich with its own special varieties ~ beauties that thrive in intense heat, poor soil, as well as in freezing weather conditions.  During this pandemic, they seem to be even more plentiful.  Or, maybe part of my lesson was to pay more attention.  Either way, they are lovely, and to see them makes me so happy.

I am fortunate to have many of my mom’s flower and gardening books.  She always took along certain books on wildflower walks to help with plant identification. One of her most favorite things to do was to attend the Wildflower Pilgrimage which is an annual event conducted by the West Virginia Garden Clubs, Inc. and co-sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.  It is held every spring in Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, West Virginia.

“As I wander’d the forest, the green leaves among, I heard a Wildflower singing a song.” ~ William Blake

Wildflowers truly are one of the “Sweet, Simple Things of Life.”  And how perfectly delightful it would be to have a simple meal with someone you love and adore in a field of wildflowers.  

“The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things that the true beauty lies.” ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Dear friends, I hope you have enjoyed your visit.  Please continue to be careful with regard to the virus.  The experts tell us it is far from over.  And I believe when it is over life will be different.  That is certainly not to say that it might just not be better.  Know I wish you a beautiful day and a lovely week ahead. 

And…

May you enjoy all your moments and find beauty in all that you do. 

Amour,

Sandra

Authors Notes:  Part of the title of this post was taken from the quote by Laura Ingalls Wilder which reads, “I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”

Honeysuckle Photo:  Michael S. Lambiotte

Images:  Regarding the images on this blog, most are from tumblr, unless otherwise noted.  Most often, I am unable to determine the photographer or where the photo was taken.  All I can say is, The photos are the work of highly talented souls and I would be happy to attach a name if I could locate one.  I find great joy in sharing their work with lovely quotes from my personal collection and am hopeful the two together provide a message of goodwill.

“In difficult times, solace is always found in beauty’s serenity.” ~ unknown

Good morning, beautiful souls.  I hope this finds everyone well.  And that you are finding comfort during these turbulent times in the beauty of God’s many blessings. 

The smallest of things:  flowers, magnificent trees, fluffy white clouds, and the serenade of bird song ~ lovely rays of sunshine sent to nourish our souls.  Such things are truly a gift from above. 

“I wish you a kinder sea.” ~ Emily Dickinson

A portion of the Legend of the Sand dollar. ~ ‘If one breaks open the center, you will release the five white doves awaiting to spread goodwill and peace.’

Dear friends,

Please know I am wishing you a beautiful day and that the angels will walk with you along your path.

And…

May we soon see “kinder seas,” and come to know a better world.

Scatter Joy!

Amour,

Sandra

Images:  Regarding the images on this blog, most are from tumblr, unless otherwise noted.  Most often, I am unable to determine the photographer or where the photo was taken.  All I can say is, “The photos are the work of highly talented souls and I would be happy to attach a name if I could locate one.”  I find great joy in sharing their work with lovely quotes from my personal collection and am hopeful the two together provide a message of goodwill.

“The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you.  Don’t go back to sleep!” ~ Rumi

Good Sunday morning, sweet souls.  Honestly, I have no “secrets to tell you.”  But,”don’t go back to sleep.”  It is such a pretty day.

Can you believe we are about to say goodbye to May?  She came and left in a blink.  Perhaps, there was simply too much going on in our crazy world to really pay attention.  And, I am not just referring to the pandemic or violence issues.  Our weather in North Central West Virginia made life interesting.  We had March in May ~ it was all mixed up.  However, the real May did finally arrive in all her magical glory, bringing with her ‘great joy.’

“On May” ~ James Thomson

“Among the changing months, May stands confest
The sweetest, and in fairest colours dressed!
Soft as the breeze that fans the smiling field;
Sweet as the breath that opening roses yield;
Fair as the colour lavish Nature paints
On virgin flowers free from unodorous taints! –
To rural scenes thou tempt’st the busy crowd,
Who, in each grove, thy praises sing aloud!
The blooming belles and shallow beaux, strange sight,
Turn nymphs and swains, and in their sports delight.”

“The gloom of the world is but a shadow.  Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy.  Take joy!” ~ Fra Giovanni, 1513

“There is a silent eloquence in every wild bluebell that fills my softened heart with bliss that words could never tell.” ~  Anne Brontë

“One beautiful heart is better than a thousand beautiful faces.” ~ William Shakespeare

“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” ~Albert Schweitzer

Image, Country Living Magazine

Is there anything sweeter than a surprise bouquet of flowers?  I am always a bit giddy when Mike comes home with a bouquet of something lovely or I find that a friend has left a surprise on my porch.    

Or, perhaps, something sweet from a friend or neighbors garden.  Such as beautiful tomatoes or fresh asparagus.   John Berger refers to these things as, “commas of care.”  These things bring joy to others in the receiving, and to ourselves in the giving.

“Remember the quiet wonders. The world has more need of them than it has for warriors.” ~ Charles de Lint

“The older I get, the surer I am that I’m not running the show.” ~ Leonard Cohen

Enjoying quiet moments, especially in my garden, brings me great joy.  In our world today I feel such times, wherever they may be enjoyed, are vital to our well-being.

“Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made for the eye of one who sees.” ~ Rumi

“There is just wonder right in front of us, and we don’t spend enough time thinking about it.” ~ Michael Pollan

“Compassion is one of those experiences that deeply affects the human heart, whether we give it, receive it, or observe it.” ~ Joan Halifax, “Standing on the Edge”

Dear friends, it was most difficult for me to write and compile this post today.  My heart hurts for our world and our country.  I am certain yours does too.  The violence in our country, in addition to the pandemic and loss of life, is almost a little too much for this soul.  However, I continue forward.  As I know in my heart our world needs kindness, beauty, “commas of care,” and inspiration ~ now, more than ever.  How do we get this message out to the world?  That is the real question.  I don’t come close to an answer, perhaps you do.  All I know is, everything bad and good, has a ripple effect.   I also believe that in time, good always wins.  I am holding on to that with all my might, and I hope you will also.  But, I don’t have my head in the sand either and I well understand that…

“The work of today is the history of tomorrow and we are its makers.” ~ Juliette Gordon Low

Know, I am wishing you and yours a beautiful day and week ahead.  

‘Scatter Joy,’ dear ones!

Amour,

Sandra

Images:  Regarding the images on this blog, most are from tumblr, unless otherwise noted.  Most often, I am unable to determine the photographer or where the photo was taken.  All I can say is, “The photos are the work of highly talented souls and I would be happy to attach a name if I could locate one.”  I find great joy in sharing their work with lovely quotes from my personal collection and am hopeful the two together provide a message of goodwill.