“The Garden’s Welcome”

Growing Beauty Through Connection

During this year’s long spring season, I spent many of my days outside planting native flowering plants, including several that were given to me by a woman I met at a local plant sale. While I was shopping for native flowers, she turned to me and said, “I have plenty of native flowers at home. Would you like some?” Of course, I said yes. A few days later, I visited her home and helped dig up the plants she wanted to share with me.  This wasn’t the first time flowers became a bridge to a new friendship.  I love the unexpected connections we make when flowers become the conversation.

There is a special love language in being gifted plants. Over the years, several friends have shared plants from their own gardens for me to add to mine. Those gifts speak to me in a way that few others can because they remain forever connected to the giver. Each time I see them blooming, I don’t just admire their beauty, I think of the person who shared them with me. I remember their kindness, their love of nature, and their generous spirit. They become part of my garden, but also part of my story.

All the hard work of planting has brought wonderful color to my summer. Each time I step outside, I am greeted by blooming coneflowers, lavender, lilies, bee balm, and roses. On the hillside below, milkweed and blazing star sway in the breeze, welcoming butterflies and pollinators to the garden.

Coneflowers

Milkweed and Blazing Star

I was once asked why I don’t include a bit of garbage or clutter in my artwork to make it more realistic. My answer was simple: we see enough of that in everyday life. What we see less and less is the beauty that surrounds us, if we are willing to slow down and notice it, or better yet, create it ourselves. That is the world I hope to share through my art.