Digging deep heals the soul

This article by Janice Mawhinney was in our Toronto Star today.
I thought it explains very well our peace and joy when gardening. I wanted to share it with you.
A quote ...Digging deep heals the soul
"Gardening is as much about nurturing the self as it is about nurturing the plants."
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1052251624117&call_pageid=970599119419
I hope you enjoy it as much as I.
Have a wonderful day,
Cheers,
Carol

It is my sanity, I can't imagine life without playing in the dirt. We had a wonderful day today planting garden and flowers. Now fickle me is wishing for a nice rain shower and then clear right up. I was just whining a week ago about all the rain. LOL

Hi Joann,
We had lots of rain yesterday, and then in late afternoon the sun came out..my daughter and her husband came and trimmed my shrubs in front of the house..they are quite large.
My daughter asked if I could share some of my perennials with her best friend..and I potted up about 35 pots for her..3's of each plant, and a few singles. I was amazed at what I could take and not even make a dent in the garden. Actually it made some of my garden look better. I am making markers from an old window blind..great idea. It feels good to share. The Fairy bloomed yesterday, and the other roses are putting on lots of new growth. Unfortunately the Europena didn't make it..and the Chiliean Potato vine Glasnevin is growing taller..Thank you so much.
My apple trees are in bloom..heavenly. It is a wonderful time of year. so much to look forward to.
The Sunsprite, Sexy Rexy, and Henry Kelsey are planted in the bed in the background where you see the white arbour. The opening between the trees where you see the gazing ball is the path to the Secret Garden. The Fairy is in a pot on the deck..the photo I took yesterday looks washed out so I will take another and send it soon. My crab apple tree is the frame in the foreground.
Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy....
Cheers,
Carol

Carol I did enjoy reading your post and your garden is, in a word, enchanting!!! I am simply enamoured with crab apples and have tried to find the cultivar 'Floribunda'. As for the 'Glasnevin' potato vine - I also rate this as one of my all time favourites, but alas it seems it's not hardy here in Virginia and I certainly can't find it. I couldn't imagine life without a garden and all the trials and tribulations that go into making our special places.

Louisa, thank you....glad you enjoyed it. That crab apple tree was here when I bought his house 20 years ago..and the house was built 32 years ago..so it is pretty old. Lenjo (Joann) sent me rooted cuttings of her roses and included a rooted cutting of her Glasnevin vine..in bloom no less..right now it isn't blooming..but it is growing taller. I will try to bring it inside for the winter..or at least try to make some cuttings..(not so good at that).
It rained here this mornig..but it has just stopped..Yippee! I can't wait to see the look on my daughter's friends face when she sees all the plants I have for her.

Hi Carol and Margaret too, Your garden,Carol, looks like a wonderful place for us three to meet and enjoy time together. Wouldn't that be grand!!! Margaret I am going to send you another potato vine, I still have at least 2 or 3 of these that are homeless.And Carol, I will try Europeana again this late summer. Yes, this is a glorious time of year. We did get that little shower that came through last night. Thank you Lord. Time for me to get ready for church.Talk again later. Joann

Starzz, thanks for sending the Toronto garden story. I printed it off to send to my daughter. it is so true. And your garden framed with the Crabapple is so beautiful. Thanks for sending for all of to enjoy. Donna

Wonderful article, Starzz, thanks for sharing.

Think I'll be looking for both the gargoyle and Kuan Yin and crystals and . . .
I need all the help I can get!

Does anyone out there know of a very miniature apple variety. Three years ago I took out seven female (very annoyingly fluffy) poplars from the ravine at the back of my lot and started to expand my garden into the "gully". I was amazed the next spring to see a gorgeous display of blossoms on a 25 foot tree that had been previously hidden. I figured they had to be apple blossoms and thought It would turn out to be a crab. However the blossoms are white and the apples are no bigger than a cranberry. They are wonderful dried as part of my homemade trail mix but I have no idea what kind of apple it is and have not met anyone who has seen an apple like it.

Joann yes, thank you again. I can certainly give the Glasnevin a home. I cannot believe the rain we are having, nearly every day for almost two weeks and more to come and as I sat on the screened cat porch this morning I almost started to bemoan the fact, but I did give thanks and uttered a little prayer because I do love the rain, even though it is spoiling the roses.

jagonjune isn't it wonderful to discover something new. I'm always on the lookout in our woods. I'm not quite sure what you have there. Are you sure it's a crabapple?

Oh..so great that you all enjoyed the article..
I am going to save the newspaper clipping in my gardening file.
Rutholive..neat idea to print it off..and share it.

Violabird...It made me want to look for some crystals too...

Joann..wouldn't it be wonderful!..a garden party!

Jagonjune..I love surprises in the garden..sorry I don't know anything about apples trees..these apple trees are old and not good producers anymore..they are just a canopy for my Secret Garden.

Thank you all for you nice comments.
This is my daughter (blonde) and her friend when they came to pick up the plants.
It will be fun to go visit her when they are growing in her garden and see how they do for her.
Cheers.
Carol

Wow - you surely do know how to raise beautiful things!! Not that I would class your daughter as a thing but she really is lovely!!! My DD in Germany has only just started to garden and loving it too especially as she raised everything from seed. I'm tickled pink and so proud of her!!

Thank you for the compliment!
Your daughter must have a lot of patience..lol
it is very satisfying to see a plant grow from seed..I go and watch my little seeds sprout everyday..but I do have to buy some plants to tide me over till the seeds take off. The most satifying seeds I have ever grown are the perennials..some of mine have become beautiful big plants now..
And I cna't get over how the cosmos have re-seeded themselves..oh happy day! I grew them for the first time last year..from seed..and now there are lots of them.

Carol, cosmos can be transplanted very easily too. When my Theresa was very small she was "helping" Mommy by weeding and pulled all my cosmos out and I could have cried. So on a hope I replanted some of them thinking if I could just get a few to go I would be happy, they all went, I was amazed. And now I don't hesitate to move them.
I hope the rain eases up soon, Margaret, we had such a wet spring but we have had a little better lately.