A Short Voyage to the Garden

"She who opens her eyes and her heart nature-ward even once a week finds nature-study in the schoolroom a delight and an abiding joy....She finds, first of all, companionship with her children; and second, she finds that without planning or going on a far voyage, she has found health and strength"
Handbook of Nature Study, page 3

One of the joys of writing this blog is that I can share with you my daily finds in my own backyard. As the years have rolled past, my own eyes have opened to the real beauty just waiting for me to notice.


Slowing down, I see my own yard with eyes that are full of appreciation for the colors, shapes, and the variety of life.


Sometimes I notice the birds...okay, almost every day I do that. Sometimes I notice the trees or the flowers or the insects. Gradually, I have learned to plan my garden to provide opportunities for future nature study for my children and myself.

Sometimes these plans work out very well and sometimes they are a bust. Last year's milkweed crop was eaten by our Lovely Labrador, our pumpkins didn't get bigger than my fist, and the corn was a joke. Sigh.


Each year I seem to get a little better at understanding our yard and its available light and space. Recently we removed two trees that were broken in the winter snow so there should be a little more sun in the back corner for our newly planted apple tree.


I am planting the milkweed in a pot and up on the deck so our Lovely Labrador will not make a snack of it. No corn planted this year but we added onions for the first time and they look great so far.


I think this is Spanish butterfly lavender or something like that....I really should make a record of each plant I add to the garden. It smells nice and the bees love it.

As summer sneaks up on us, remember to keep your eyes open for some beauty in your world. It might just be right under your nose. Take a little voyage out into your backyard. If you make a blog entry and leave me a comment, I will come peak into your garden.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom