Dear friends and followers of Sandra’s journey toward making the world a little more beautiful. She so loved writing and trying to inspire people to not only look, but to see the beauty around and to share it with others. Oh, the hours she spent on each post. looking for the right quote and photo.
When she wrote this post, her health was failing, but her spirit kept blooming. Less than a year later, she was gone. I guess God needed her more than I did.
Nevertheless, this story is about her special love for beauty. She takes you on a spring tour of her beloved gardens and sprinkles in some amazing quotes.
Walk with her …and not only look…but see the beauty in her gardens, but also the beauty in your own life.
Sandra, “I love you more.”
ENJOY!
“This magnetic pull toward beauty is an inclination most of us carry but too few of us acknowledge. Even if we are aware of it, we seldom honor it as something planted in us for a purpose.” ~ Christie Purifoy
Iris ~ Cheryl’s Big Blue (Named for my dear friend who gave her to me.)
Good morning, dear friends. As I write this (Saturday, 5-21) I am under blue skies, lovely warm temperatures, the window by my desk is open and the birds are singing, the peonies and lilacs are in bloom, and on a gentle breeze, the luscious fragrance of the garden drifts inside ~ all just for me. Believe me when I say, “I am grateful for every sound, sight, and smell.” This morning, I hope you will join me for a bit of a stroll in the garden. You may want to find your coffee/tea before we go.
“I opened the large central window of my office room to its full on the fine early May morning. Then I stood for a few moments, breathing in the soft, warm air that was charged with the scent of white lilacs below.” ~ Angus Wilson
‘Madame Lemoine’, a French hybrid lilac.
“I cannot understand why my arm is not a lilac tree.” ~ Leonard Cohen
“Adults are content to walk the same way, hundreds of times, or thousands: Perhaps it never occurs to adults to step off the paths. To creep beneath rhododendrons, to find the spaces between fences.” ~ Neil Gaiman
It is Rhododendron time in these West Virginia Hills. The rhododendron is our state flower and was a favorite of my mom’s. Along the back of her garden, she had a stand of Canadian Hemlock Trees with native rhododendrons in front of them. It was truly a magnificent sight.
This is a rather new beauty in our garden, which I believe was planted about three years ago. This spring she has decided to ‘show off.’ Her name is ‘Bright Eyes.’
“May, and after a rainy spring We walk streets gallant with rhododendrons.” ~ Alicia Suskin Ostriker
“The immortality of Flowers must enrich our own. . .” ~ Emily Dickison, In a letter to Edward Tuckerman ~ Jan. 1874
This photo of the peony and delphinium made my heart sing. The peony is ‘Faith Fenton.’ She is the most fragrant peony in the garden, plus she is a big girl. Standing at least four feet tall. The blooms on the delphinium are as tall as the peony. I do believe it is because we have had a wet and cool spring. Plants have opened gradually and did not feel rushed. No one likes to feel rushed.
An up-close photo of ‘Faith Fenton.’ She has a long vase life and does not drop her petals.
“And the wind upon its way whispered the boughs of May, And touched the nodding peony flowers to bid them waken. ~ Siegfried Sassoon
Most of our peonies are awake. However, there are many still in the bud stage. To avoid their feelings being hurt, I will share a few currently in bloom. I have referred to peonies as “Queen of The Garden” for so long. Honestly, I do not think they believe there are other flowers that compare to their beauty. In all seriousness, in my mind, they are quite special.
In the vase are, clematis~’Josephine, peony~’Command Performance(red), ‘She’s My Star'(pink), Iris~’Black Knight,’ and Baptisia.
Peony, ‘Chiffon Clouds.’
‘Chiffon Clouds’ is fully open and in a vase by herself. Do notice the darker pink speckles on her petals. God gave her special attention.
Peony, ‘Red Grace’ and my grandmother’s white ‘Chestine Gowdy,’ and Baptisia.
An assortment of pink ladies. The iris is ‘Beverly Sills.” She shows more color toward the peach side, where actually she is pink.
“My heart spasmed among the peonies like a trout.” ~ E. Lockhart
“Sacred spaces need not be perfect, but they cease to be sacred if no one cares for them” ~ Christie Purifoy
Amour,
Sandra
Images: Michael S. Lambiotte
Mike, what a timely post. Talk about Godwinks, butterfly kisses, and angel touches….I just shared my own garden update for May here in Charleston WV, and asked readers to help me identify a new peony which bloomed this year (inherited when we bought the property in 2021). It seems as though Sandra has answered….I believe it’s a Chestine Gowdy! I looked it up and it’s described exactly as I see it. Thank you! Of course, each time I see my baptisia and iris, I also think of Sandra.
Wishing you peace and comfort.
friend Mike, yes, I consider you my friend because friends leave beautiful things for us to enjoy.
And so it is… Sandra was a special being -I always commented on it at home- because she had the gift of the written word, so difficult to obtain, and her writings were wonderful. Although it is not credible I have them all saved … she was an excellent person. And now we have the opportunity to recreate her things through you and that is a great gift that you give us.
A big hug from Spain.
Dolores Velasco
This was truly a gorgeous visual. Sandra’s writings brought me to the realization of spring flowers are my favorites. Many thanks dear Sandra….bloom on.
Mike, this was a welcome surprise this morning to se this post! I have referred back to it earlier in the spring. Sweet Sandra gifted me a Stairway to Heaven Iris and it has been gorgeous this year. I know that would make her happy. I think of her often as I walk in my garden and enjoyed my peonies!
Thank you, Mike, for these lovely photos and verses. Like these beautiful flowers, Sandra is something very special—someone that brings out the best in us and someone that makes us happy remembering how very dear she is. I miss her.
Hello, Michael. I am so very grateful you are taking us back to some of Sandra’s beautiful writing. My peonies are in bud now — and every time I look at them, I think of Sandra. She loved hers so. I went to comment on the first post (I’m so lagging in reading) but by then the comments were closed, so I’m glad I made it here in time.
Sandra’s writing, like her garden, was such a gift to anticipate every week or every post. She could make us think, make our heart sings, lift us. She still does. Thank you for sharing her with us once again.