Red

The colour you can't forget.

It sparks a fire in your eyes

that travels to your heart

and all of a sudden you want to dance.

Philosophy in a Peony

When life presents us with a big enough problem

it can feel overwhelming

Like it's taking over our whole world

We tackle it as best we can

If we're lucky we get some help

As the problem opens itself up

for our scrutiny

We find many possible

reasons

answers

solutions

questions

In viewing the problem as a whole

we may not know where to begin

or when it will ultimately end

But it's important to remember

Problems are as much a part of life

as everything else

And sometimes,

it's only in the midst of a problem

That we discover the true beauty of life

Paint The Town Red

Walking through my garden daily now, checking to see what's coming up.

I've noticed that many of my spring shoots are red.

Above and below are Bleeding Hearts

they are about six inches high right now.

Here's one just on its way out of the ground.

I think this silly shoot finds it too cold

and is heading back inside last year's stem.

This is a tulip plant, the flower will be white,

still, love the red tips.

This is a lilium

coming up so beautifully.

Another lilium, not so lucky,

already eaten and it's barely out of the ground.

Funny, the Red Lily Leaf Beetle that's eating it

- is also red.

Here's another tulip

with such bright red tips

I can spot them from across the garden.

A clematis leaf bud

A hosta leaf

And finally,

a leaf so red

it's hard to believe

in no time it will be a deep dark green.

A peony bush!

This one is feeling shy

But there is no hiding

this kind of 

Paint-the-town red!

A Birthday Surprise!

I was wondering where to go for my 50th birthday... and decided to celebrate it somewhere special, somewhere I love being every day. My garden.

My children asked what they could buy/do for me. Such pressure, what to do for my 50th. The number itself seems such a big deal that I wanted the opposite. Something not big, no pressure, just an everyday joy. My garden.

Funny how it always comes back to that.

I asked each of them to make me a sign. A simple wooden hanging sign for me and my garden. The last few weeks they have been busy planning, whispering, drawing, and colouring their plans. I can hardly wait to see what they have created!