My extravagance is my garden –
it’s the first thing I look at
every morning when I wake up.
It gives me so much pleasure.
~Ina Garten
According to Margaret Atwood, “Gardening is not a rational act.” And though I like to think of myself as a fairly rational person most of the time, I’m given from time to time, like most folks, to a little irrationality especially in the garden. So here goes today’s saga about my most recent fall from rational grace, as it were. The only thing I needed at the nursery was a bag of planting mix, but as always I wanted to stroll up and down the rows and rows of flowers before making my purchase. The first thing that caught my eye was this amazing white clematis with its chocolate colored anthers. As I stood admiring it, I kept saying to myself, “No, Natalie, you do NOT need to buy another plant.” So even though I’ve grown very fond of clematis, I walked away with great resolve to resist the urge to buy anything and went on down the way to look at the roses. Of course there were some gorgeous varieties of those too, but I told myself that I didn’t need those either and then headed back to the front to check out. On the way, as chance would have it, I heard someone call my name and when I turned to see who it was, my next door neighbor was standing right next to the pots of those white clematis. Nevertheless, I went ahead and walked on over to chat with her for a few minutes, and then I turned resolvedly to walk away. That was when I could swear I heard the white clematis speaking to me and saying, “you’ll regret it if you don’t come back and take me home.” And darn it, I knew I would. So I walked back one more time to see how much it was and read the information about it hoping that either or both would deter me. Despite the fact that it was a little pricey however, how could anyone walk away from anything described with the word chocolate for heaven’s sake. Okay! Okay! I’ll admit it! I’m a bonafide, pocketbook-carrying, irrational flower “junkie!” So shoot me! But I’m really not extravagant about anything except my garden-not jewelry, not clothes, not shoes, not cars, nothing but my pretty flowers. And ya know, I don’t regret it for one second. I worked hard and for long hours for nearly 40 years; I’m in my 70’s, I’ve survived a stroke; so I guess I can live with an occasional lack of restraint. With what years I have left, I think I deserve my one and only extravagance perhaps because it is as Theroux said, “it is the closest I’ll ever come to being present at creation.” And oh how I would have loved to have been there and witnessed that!
The human soul is hungry for beauty;
we seek it everywhere – in landscape,
music, art, clothes, furniture,
gardening, companionship, love,
religion, and in ourselves.
When we experience the beautiful,
there is a sense of homecoming.
~John O’Donohue
The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it, nor could the juniper equal its boughs, nor could the plane trees compare with its branches—no tree in the garden of God could match its beauty. ~Ezekiel 8-9 ✝
Reblogged this on idealisticrebel and commented:
Natalie, till I die I will never forget your words. A garden is the closest we can come to Creation. You touched my heart. Hugs, Barbara
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😘
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So very true. I feel closer to God when on my knees working in the gardens.
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Me too! 💟
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This was one of my favorite posts, Natalie. I love walking, sitting or relaxing by or in a garden. The way you tried to resist buying the beautiful white clematis woh chocolate anthets was strong but your resolve melted like candy itself. 🙂 ❤
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That’s me, just an old softy when it comes to flowering beauty! 😘😊❤️
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I so agree with you. A little time spent in the garden rejuvenates me and make me feel fresh and happy…always. Great post, Natalie… 🙂 ❤
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Thank you Mani! 👍😊❤️😘
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You don’t have to ever rationalize your love—it is oh so and tenderly evident and we are the better for this irrationality of yours 🙂 as is the clematis….
happy planting
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Why thank you missy! 🌹😘
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Agreed Natalie. Gardens and flowers are sources of great joy and perfectly rational expense!
May we keep planting seeds of beauty and love… 🙂
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I’m so glad you agree and yes we shall planting those kinds of seeds! 👍😊❤️😘
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Planting now! XD
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Love this post. My Social Snappers group went to our garden centre here, the others ended up in the cafe. Me, I spent time wandering around taking photos and just loving all the colours. I was in heaven. So your garden is your haven too, so enjoy it
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Oh I do and always shall! 👍😊❤️
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This explains why I can come home from a hard day at the office wanting a nap, but instead become rejuvenated by going out and puttering in my backyard.
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Absolutely! Works every time for me! 👍😊🌹
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Dear Natalie, I can relate to your lovely prose about the joys of a garden. I’m glad you got the clematis. Each time it blooms you’ll be glad too. Saying a prayer for you for tomorrow. ❤
Blessings & hugs ~ Wendy
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I don’t know how I missed this comment, Wendy. But thank you for it and yes every time I see it bloom, I’m glad I got it. Take care and have a great week dear Wendy! 🙂 ❤
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I arrived late to this post. ❤ Hugs.
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Okay! Okay! I’ll admit it! I’m a bonafide, pocketbook-carrying, irrational flower “junkie!” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
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That makes two of us then!!! This made me laugh out loud missy! 🙂 ❤
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I was writing what you wrote! I should have put it in quotes. Hahaha. You made me laugh! 😉
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Oh I get it!!! What a dumb bunny I was❣😘
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😊😊😊
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