Thursday, September 11, 2008

Dream Garden


Recently, Tami and I have been talking a bit about fairies. And yesterday she set something very special in motion for us.

She asked, "Why don't you plan and plant a fairy garden?"

I didn't even reply before Maria and I were in our favorite nursery and choosing Elfin Thyme, violas, and miniature mint. We found a sturdy sprig of Rosemary to serve as our evergreen tree. I chose a pale shade of Lobelia, with its tiny flowers, so perfect for a dream garden, a fairy land. Every plant we chose has healing, medicinal uses. We found a small fountain. I think the sound of water pouring, splashing, is healing.


Then William helped me find a couple of more plants and to bring home the big bags of potting soil we needed. At home we had a ceramic toadstool and garden frog, a bag of green gravel and pretty moonstones we saved from beach walks. Alex and Max joined us in filling our half barrel with potting soil and placing the fountain. We arranged and planted together. We planned a path to wind around the garden. We stepped back and smiled. We touched the water and stared down the path, to see it all from a fairy's point of view.


We agreed that it will be a work in progress, that we will always be able to change things, maybe add things. We sat daydreaming together. We were so happy to realize that this would be a garden we would not have to leave behind. Alex wants to take a daily picture so we can make a movie that shows the subtle changes, so we can replay the flowers blooming, the thyme filling in the bare spots. I have in mind something I saw in a shop, a little treat to surprise the children with.


Seven years ago we lost something... innocence, ease. I look for it. I look for fanciful things and simple pleasures. I look for ways to erase the hard edges of living in this modern world. We cannot go back to before, to September 10th, 2001. But I hope to remember that not all of what we lost has to be gone forever... No one is going to give us peace of mind or happiness, so I seek it out. I create times and spaces where we can daydream and enjoy our happy endings. I motivate myself with the wish, a belief, that the good we foster will grow and spread, that love and beauty will prevail. I find God's comfort in quiet places, where we are free to believe in light and joy.

20 comments:

nikkipolani said...

Sooo sweet, Natalie! I love your design. Someday, when you settle into your own space, I know you're going to have a lovely comfortable garden. This little one's full of charm. And, not to dampen your spirits, but a word of warning: these little gardens change even faster than a full sized one: things can quickly outgrow their space, or fail inexplicably, or languish despite your carefullest care. That's just the way with these, so don't be discouraged. Hugs!

Natalie said...

I only have imagine 1 visit from the chicas to realize how right you are!

Anna Banana said...

Making something out of nothing, brava! bravi!

Tami @ Lemon Tree Tales said...

Oh it turned out so great! I love it! The fountain is perfect in it as well. :-)

Tiglizzyclone said...

Oh! how interesting! A fairy garden! Recently, I have been drawing fairy pictures, for the last month. Your little garden is just right.

Laura Jane said...

Oh what a sweet little garden! I just love it!

A place for innocence to be replenished, and a retreat for homeless fairies whose gardens have been downtrodden.

You could have a daily peek to see if they leave you any notes now and then. Fairies do that sometimes y'know.

d.a. said...

Gorgeous!

prairieknitter01 said...

Wonderful garden! Don't forget to treat your bunny to a few sprigs of mint now and then. My bunny loves mint and catnip, and since, as you probably know, rabbits poop garden gold, Bunny will reward your little garden's soil abundantly!

I can't think of a more important lesson to pass along to children than teaching them to create their own oasis of peace. My grandmother from New Zealand tried to teach us about tea-time, and we thought she was crazy about drinking tea. She wasn't. She was worried that we kids came raging home from school only to rush through our homework, then chores, then dinner, dishes and clean-up, overstimulate ourselves with TV and then fall into bed and do it again the next day. She tried to teach us to take some time to make a ritual in our day. Carve out a place for some peace.

Best wishes to you! The maples have started turning orange in southern Minnesota.

Andrea

judy in ky said...

The fairy garden is magical. No matter where you are, you can always create magic.

Randi said...

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Jennifer said...

Sometimes I think it is important to think in terms of what cannot be taken away, what cannot be lost nor broken. To allow ourselves to lose hope, or to see the world only through a filter of anger and despair, is to have lost everything. Hope lives in a fairy garden.

Andylynne said...

Your garden is precious. I'm glad to see continued hope manifested in a magical setting.

cristina thornburg photography said...

What a beautiful little garden you have...and even more beautiful is the fact that you created it together. I can imagine that Maria is just tickled with it! xoxo Tina

Mama Spark said...

It's funny that you would post this today as I was looking in a catalog and found 2 books about making fairy houses for your garden! I think they were in the Gaelsong catalog ( they also have a website) you *need* to check it out! I love the fairy garden.

Paul said...

Frickin' sweet, Natalie. There's something seriously wrong with the fact that we don't live near you guys. Something about the way y'all do things just clicks with Janece and I. Fairy garden = serious clickage. And I love that you put the garden into the categories of "Play" and "Prayer", right together like that. IMHO, that's what prayer is at some level - the stillness of joy and being at the center of doing creative work.

Julie said...

That's a beautiful fairy garden! It's nice, as always, to drop by chickenblog!

Julie in Seattle

Chris said...

Now that is charming! I love that you built it together...shared the fantasy & the dream.

This is the stuff those oft-spoken of "childhood memories" are made of! Someday, you may have a grandchild ask "Abuela, I want to make a fairy garden with you!" Then, you will be rewarded for being such a fabulous mom and human being!

Tarie said...

BEAUTIFUL. A fairy garden is a great idea! I am so glad you and your family continue to have such amazing times together. You guys are totally my favorite family. :o)

Em said...

What a wonderful Idea! I love the way you'll be able to take it with you. I love popping in to see what you've been up to!

Sara said...

Fairy garden looks really beautiful and attractive.greenhouse