Do you smell like dirt?

Margaret Atwood said “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”

Congratulations Catherinanne. You have fulfilled that purpose. You smell like dirt. Catherinanne and I love the garden. We had very little knowledge or desire for that part to do a lot with the mess that we inherited for gardens here at the rectory. A few years ago everything changed. With some assistance from parishioners we were able to get perennials from many peoples gardens. The result is a lush full large perennial garden that gives joy to our heart daily every spring and summer. Catherinanne really gets into it. Today she was out in the garden – pulling weeds and planting some annuals. Tonight she smells like dirt.

Last year we added a garden at the front of the house. We planted some things there last year but this year we have supplemented it with a Mulberry tree as well as a juniper. I also gave Catherinanne a lilac tree for Easter that we planted at the side of the house. We both like what we see. It gives us great joy to see the flowers as they spread and grow.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said “the earth laughs in flowers.” Perhaps that is why I have come to love the garden so much. I love to laugh and every one of those flowers as it opens brings me great joy. I like the fact that we can bring life to something – make it grow. I can’t wait for tomorrow. We will plant some more. Perhaps as the family are gathered in prayer for a funeral I can plant a perennial in memory of Robert. I’ll name it Robert Plant! It will remind me of how great God’s love is. The great thing about this time of year is that while I watch everything die in the fall I am given new hope in April and May as the plants are resurrected. Yeah – I think I’ll put in a perennial tomorrow. “All of us go down to the earth, yet even at the grave we make our song; Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Watch for photos of the garden tomorrow.