The garden is an eloquent metaphor for how we move through life ..........
Life can be seen as a garden maze, sometimes the hedges are too tall to see over or, too thick to see through, with no way of knowing what lies ahead or around the corner. There is a beginning and an end but, there is also a whole lot of middle !
We need to remove the weeds from our lives .....
..... to allow the beautiful blooms space to breathe and grow. The beauty of life can be lost amongst the mundane 'weeds' of life. Stress and negativity can sometimes take over and the beauty of life can get lost.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, be it in life or in the garden. Some people like their gardens simple, as they do their lives, others like to take risks and try to grow the difficult, non-hardy plants.
As plants need support, so do we and life is always easier when there are people in our life who are there to support and help us.
When things are dark and difficult, we must try to persevere and push through.
Giving our time and hard work, will bring it's rewards .... we reap what we sow.
Put your heart and soul into everything that you do.
Take the time to smell the roses.
Each new day brings a little sunshine ....
but, we also need the rain to flourish and grow.
We cultivate our relationships like we grow flowers and vegetables ..... flowering, growing and producing.
Both bring new life into the world .....
We find pleasure and relaxation in both .....
'To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves'.
MOHANDAS K. GANDHI
Please pop over to Marsha @ Splenderosa to see the other participants take on our subject this month.
images 1 & 2: via Rodney Smith, images 3, 4, 5, 6 & 9: via night tattoo, image 7: via brown dress with white dots, image 8: via love french bulldogs, image 10: via tumblr, image 11: via maggie thunder, image 12: via dustjacket attic, images 13, 16 & 18: via zsa zsa bellagio, image 14: via sunday in bed, image 15: via the vault of beauty, image 17: via chintz of darkness, image 19: via encore life
What a wonderful post. Very thought provoking with amazing photos.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful... xv
ReplyDeleteHello Jackie:
ReplyDeleteHow beautifully you have used this extended metaphor through both words and images in this post. Yes, life is as you portray it here, with all of its complexities of frustration, joy, hope, fear, disappointment, and many more besides. But what underlies everything, and which underscores all that is here, is the profound love which exists throughout the world from one individual to another and for which we should all be very, very grateful.
May your own garden blossom in every possible way.
so nice to pop over here just as you post as opposed to days later!!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful - and that animated image is incredible. Gardens do teach one the true meaning of patience don't they.
Hope you are well xoxoxoxo
Lovely post Jackie ~ I was so taken by your words and not just your pictures ~ not that I do not read your words other times ~ look at me after only 1 coffee feeding my brain this morning! Hugs to you sweet friend. xo
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie,
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written with the perfect images to support your message.
Loved this post...:)
P.S. The animated image was spectacular!
Take care my friend,
Laura
Jac's that would have to be my fav post of yours. Just really moving, thoughtful and beautiful...thanks honey.
ReplyDeletexoxoxo
Hi,I love your blog so much and look your pictures is like a trip in a fairytale world everytime.
ReplyDelete♥ Susa ♥
Such beautiful prose and photos. Lovely. Thank you for these gentle reminders. xo
ReplyDeleteJackie !!! this post is so so so wonderful.....i enjoy each word and each picture......thanks for share with us.....love from Holland....xxx.....xxx...
ReplyDeleteMy love, you, me & Coty see live and the garden exactly alike, and here we are on 3 different continents!! This is so heartfelt and I love that you did it all in black and white. Beautiful images, but more than that...beautiful thoughts. Sending love...
ReplyDeleteDear Jackie,
ReplyDeleteYou always have a way to post everything I love! Every image and post you creat is AMAZING!!!
XO
Dear, dear Jackie,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, absolutely beautiful -- in every way.
xo,
Tish
The perfect pairings and sentiments Jackie. What a gorgeous post, and all so so true. xx
ReplyDeleteFAB photos!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing post. You've made an excellent collection of both pictures and words...a really great choice. I also adore the metaphors and similes that you used. Well done! I always love to return to your blog for exactly that reason.
ReplyDeleteI find such peace in gardening. The concept of sowing and reaping is lost on so many nowadays I fear. This post is not only beautiful but brimming with truth dear Jackie.
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful! xxoo
ReplyDeleteBe gone weeds! :)
ReplyDeleteThoughtful and though provoking! Your images are stunning! Gardens are a great metaphor for life.
ReplyDeleteI am a new follower, and fellow By Invitation Only gal.
Yvonne
Eye-catching, original, captivating. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteCharming - Thoughtful - and simply Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from the Périgord,
karin
Those are just about the most beautiful words I've ever read. They gave me such peace, comfort and inspiration. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie....great to meet you from a fellow BIO gal! What a lovely post with such deep thoughts and wonderful pictures... so unique from all the others and a pleasure to read!
ReplyDeleteVeronica
how utterly lovely ....speaking as one who is a very late bloomer .... I have never known the difference between the weeds and the flowers and may well have spent too much time cultivating the former to the detriment of the later....happy easter!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous post Jackie...so beautifully written and portrayed...you made the lightbulb in the garden lantern of my mind turn on!
ReplyDeleteThe fertilizers of life, the rain, and the weeding...all not the prettiest of experiences to experience, are what truly help the gardens of our souls, spirits, and hearts continue to thrive and flourish...brilliant!
I will be thankful for all the downpours, weeding, and fertilizing that has been going on lately...and will expect to be profusely blossoming form it all in the very near future!!
xo J~
That would be 'from it all'!!! Must need a bit more fertilizer...or caffiene! ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words and photo's Jackie! As always a joy to look at!!! Great new photo of you in your sidebar too :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely Easter!
Lieve groeten van Madelief xox
Hey how do you get trees and waterfalls coming out your eyes ? Haha love that.
ReplyDeleteThe eye picture was amazing...where on earth did you find it...The rest of the pics...also so awesome.
ReplyDeleteluv ya J.
One of my favorites...so amazingly profound and beautiful. Thanks!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou do find the greatest images...such a treat. And indeed the garden is a metaphor - who knew?!! Lou x
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post shared with me by one of my blog readers, but I wanted to let you know that the wine box image is one I took of my own garden. I'd appreciate a photo credit to LLH Designs. This is the specific post for the garden:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.llhdesignsblog.com/2011/03/details-of-our-first-ever-garden.html
Blessings,
Linsey
Dear Jackie,
ReplyDeleteYou made a beautiful post of all this pictures, nice words also.
Enjoy some nice Easter days.
Love Gerda
This post is sooooooo full of romance (I have tears in my eyes)........looooooove it!!!! Happy Easter, my dearest Jackie,
ReplyDeleteHugs Jade
What a beautiful, inspirational post Jackie! Such a beautiful journey through your words and photos! Thank you and have a wonderful Easter weekend celebration!
ReplyDeleteJenniferxox
You spoke wise words! I love the pictures you found! you really know how to combine your words with "visual effects"... Happy Easter dear Jackie!
ReplyDeleteSpot on mate, how true. However my garden is a mess 'cos a certain un-named person has started ripping areas apart with the intent of making big changes & then not finishing a single one thing. Sort of a bit like his own life at the moment!!
ReplyDeleteMillie xx
Hi dear Jackie,
ReplyDeletewonderful post... hope you enjoyed the Easter days...
xoxo Bine
jax
ReplyDeleteyou know i love you.
this post was for me.
xxx
Really such a lovely post...the images are stunning. Your words magical.
ReplyDeleteHope your Easter was amazing...hugs to you.xxo
Beautiful words and images Jackie. I have seen before and love the image of the pouring eye ... just love this post!
ReplyDeleteDont worry about a bedside table ... not everyone has one! Thats what makes you unique ... just send me pics of what you already have.
Hope your Easter was fab ... Amsterdam was great, not one of my favourite places, but I think i didn't enjoy it as much as I was feeling poorly with a bad case of laryngitis! I'm sure you'll love it!
xx
Heart touching blog. Very beautiful photos. Earth really laugh with flower so use top soil soil and grow more flowers .
ReplyDeleteThis is just breath taking. Your post is the BEST I don't know where you find these images and the words go so well with each one. You have a beautiful mind.
ReplyDeletei love this...i have only just discover the joy of nurturing a garden.
ReplyDeletewith hugs Cate
Hello, I just came over your blog and love it ! Thanks for sharing all those wonderful photos with us. Greetings from Paris, xo
ReplyDeleteDear Jackie, wow!!!!!!!! Such a marvellously beautiful post today.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you x Jane
Lovely post Jackie!
ReplyDeleteI found some nice words som suites your post;
Family and friends are flowers in the garden of live.
Hugs Gerda
I've recently discovered your blog and am really enjoying both reading and admiring awesome photos in your posts :)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful and poetic reminder.... A garden is indeed a microcosm of all life. Thank you, Jackie!
ReplyDelete