Dream Gardens
A Thousand Flowers in Bloom
The garden's beauty lies in its variety and ever-changing nature.
It comes alive with exuberant bloom at the beginning of summer, boasting the purity of lilies and the sweetness of roses, with care free daisies and cheerful zinnias mixed in, a symphony of color, the more clashing, the better.
Fiery orange and lemon yellow daylilies, brown and russet marigolds, bright red Bristol flowers, delft blue delphiniums and purple coneflowers, fuchsia, salmon and chartreuse zinnias, black dahlias and candy corn hot poker plants, hot pink dianthus, magenta roses and the lavender gradients of lilacs.
A thousand flowers in bloom, no two the same, every one of them perfect.
Whether it is a wild meadow, a cottage garden, a forest in spring, or a field of wheat dotted by poppies and chicory, the green kingdom delights in lavishing color, texture and variety on its subjects, even those that are only meant to last a day.
The Scented Haven
The scents of a garden are subtle, surprising and enchanting, they speak to the senses and memories.
Of course the honey fragrance of a tea rose, the intoxicating scent of evening stock or perfumed tuberoses evoke unquestioned nostalgia, but the scents of a garden are so much more complex than that.
There is the smell of fresh cut grass and that of storm clouds, and the intense scent of heated herbs during a summer afternoon.
There's the fragrance of tree pollen, that seems to come from nowhere, while the branches are still bare early in spring, and the delicious smell of honey and ripe fruit that accompanies leaf season in the fall.
There's the smell of snow in the air, announcing it from afar, and the humid touch of spring.
After the rain the air smells like humus, mushrooms and forest.
The invigorating vibrance of pine needles permeates the surroundings on hot summer afternoons, and the gentle scent of chamomile lingers, as you brush against it on a garden stroll.
The mysterious fragrances of summer nights captivate you, sight unseen.
Even with your eyes closed, your garden delights you, a scented haven and a small piece of heaven on earth.
Herbs on the Path
What could be more enchanting than walking on a path of scented herbs which release their fragrance under your footsteps?
Don't feel guilty about trampling them. Some herbs, like chamomile, thyme, or Corsican mint, have been bred to resist foot traffic and are perfect for walkable lawns and garden paths.