Magical Mornings

  There is magic to be found in just about everything.  Life in itself is magical.  It is my thought that magic is anything that is unexplained or unexpected.  I have learned a long time ago that you cannot go about life fretting what others think as it is up to you to make life magical.  I live that way now.  Each day proves that my idea is correct.

  At daybreak this morning, I ventured out into the gardens.  The air smelled fresh due to the recent rains and the ground was still wet enough to muffle any footsteps.  The pair of cardinals were patiently waiting for breakfast and the frogs were still in the midst of their serenading of the night before.  It seemed to be a perfect morning and that all was right with the world...at least, it is all right in my little paradise.  Just outside the garden gate, the Althea bush had lovely blooms that were opening with the rising sun.  Their bright lavender petals and burgundy centers were absolutely breathtaking.  These blooms have always been special as the bush has "family ties".  It started as a cutting from my grandparent's place.  I eased my way to inspect the blooms and, to my surprise, found a dragonfly wing inside of one blossom.  Well, that was strange!  Of course, there was probably an ordinary explanation but finding the wing placed so perfectly inside the petal made it magical to me.

  Had Aunt Helen been on this stroll with me, she and I would have immediately proclaimed that a faerie had gotten new wings and left the old one as proof of her existence.  Maybe?  When Aunt Helen was alive, she and I could let our imaginations run amok.  Fantastical tales could be woven on a mere find as the one this morning.  

  Folks, sometimes it is important to let go of the worries of the world and find your own magic. It is out there.  Look for it.  Perhaps the "magic" was not in finding a dragonfly wing nor the lovely Althea bloom.  Perhaps it was in being free enough in my own mind to view it as such.  Finding beauty in mundane things is a gift.  Finding magic in everything is, too.

The Handsome Prince!

  Yesterday, I found the fiery dragon in the garden.  As Queen of the Small Gardens, his presence elated me.  The protection of the garden plants rendered by a green anole is not to be scoffed at by mere humans!  The fiery dragon was welcomed and encouraged to live a long and happy life here.  The baby lizard is welcome to nestle down in the chrysanthemums any time he wishes!

  This morning's find was not a dragon but a handsome prince in disguise!  If you read faerie tales at all, you know that all frogs have that possibility of being an bewitched prince!  Yes, a quite lovely frog refused to move out of the pathway during my early morning stroll.  As I meandered the Small Gardens near the Puddle Pond, I nigh on stepped upon the poor critter!  This fine creature was also protecting the gardens as it was plucking caterpillars from the herbs!  What a handsome prince he was indeed!

  Since my queendom still is limited to the Small Gardens, I have found that more and more of my critter friends are moving nearer the gardens.  Frogs, snakes, lizards, turtles, toads, birds, squirrels, coons and fiddler crabs can be found scurrying about under the heavy leaves.  This is most likely due to the recent spate of rainstorms that have occurred over the past few weeks.  The nigh on daily rains have animals seeking dry spots.  Personally, however, since I am having to live in a make-believe world to overcome boredom, I prefer to think these fine friends are coming to visit me.  As Queen, I can do that.

Magic In The Small Gardens

  Since my "realm" has been reduced to the small gardens, I have become greatly appreciative of anything that resides therein.  The flora and fauna has become my world.  Things that I have often overlooked as "Queen of the Small Gardens" now have great interest.  Each has become a great wonder that purely has me awestruck.  As I discover life again, things in my newfound domain deserve extra notice.  So, I study each.  I delve into the "whys and wherefores" of the importance of each on this earth and in my gardens.  Life is good.  In fact, LIFE is great!

  Yesterday evening, Mark took me out just so I could photograph the moonflowers that climb upon the new trellis that I built before my limitations were set in place.  These flowers seem almost magical to me!  During the daytime hours, the buds are tightly wound spirals but let evening fall and the buds start to unfurl!  Then, the full glory can be seen...and smelled!  The side yard is filled with sensations of the best kind.  

  Moonflower blossoms are said to perfectly represent the phrase "Out of the darkness comes light."  It refers to the spiritual awakening of those who are lost.  The blooms of this vine literally glow in the moonlight which fully adds to the understanding of the comparison.  This, of course, is meaningless unless one ponders things as I do.  All gardens are special places that folks can find themselves if they only seek to do so.  Whether, a certain blossom brings a bit of enlightenment to mind or whether a simple dose of introspection does, a garden is sure a fine place to start.

Zinnias and Memories

  Every now and again, something strikes a chord and memories start flooding back in wild abandon.  This morning as I strolled about the storm battered gardens, a lone zinnia held its head high and wafted on the gentle breeze.  The purple bloom was in its full glory with the bright morning sun beaming down on it.  In its center, the flower wore a circlet of gold which proclaimed it as "Prince of the Garden".  (I figure I have enough queens and princesses and a sole "king" skink so it is about time for a prince to appear.) 

  This purple zinnia started the memory flow and from there, it just took on a life of its own.  For the rest of the walk through the gardens, memories of Pop filled the brain.  Good memories...happy memories...times I never wish to forget.  You see, being a farmer, Pop always had lots to do with plants.  His fields were always impeccable and lush but his passion was his flower gardens.  He loved flowers of any sort and zinnias seemed to be a favorite.  These and petunias could be found in beds around the yard.   As a youngster, I walked with Pop as he tended the gardens.  He showed me the ins and outs of planting and caring for each plant.  He taught me the names and planting times.  He instilled in me a love for all growing things.  It is still there.

  Zinnias are some of the easiest garden flowers to grow and, once you get a start, the seeds can be saved for future plantings.  In fact, the seeds usually stay viable for several years after harvesting.  Also, as long as you dead-head the spent blooms, zinnias will fill the summer and fall with their colorful blooms. They make great, long-lasting cut flowers, too.  So...plant some zinnias and start some of your own memories!

Magical Night Gardens

  It seems as if some gardens are prettier at night than during the day.  Let a full moon occur and every white bloom in the garden literally glows.  Some flowers bloom exclusively at night but even those that are day bloomers take on a different appearance. While there is not much in the way of gorgeous flowers in the garden this late in the summer due to the heat, there are those that insist on carrying on with their budding.  The Madonna Lilies are towering over my head and have dozens of huge, white trumpets, the four-o'clocks wither flat each day but early evening brings their fragrant, hot pink buds bursting open and the moon flowers now cover the jasmine arbor and delicately unfurl their plate-sized blooms at dusk.  Throw in a few night blooming cereus buds and the almost nonexistent daytime garden is a wonderland at night.

  This evening, I stepped out the front door to catch a quick glimpse of the moon flowers in bloom.   A slow, drizzling rain made the intoxicating aromas of the garden blooms hang heavy around me.  A few moths were busy visiting the blooms before the rains strengthened and made feeding impossible.  There also were a couple of billion mosquitoes there!  All of that beauty had to be absorbed in a matter of minutes before I raced back inside.  My nighttime garden would have to wait until I am able to whip up some herbal bug balm.  Tonight's visit was just sampler.  My magical night garden will soon be at its best!