Beauty Walk
Snow was thick on the ground and on the branches of the trees when I last visited the gardens. It was a Sunday, and I had gone to church that morning. The pastor spoke about the concept of a “beauty walk”—that is, taking walk out in the world with...
In the Guest House (pt 2)
Here is the second part of a poem I wrote while staying in the Guest House in December. It was the weekend we had that heavy evening fog, followed by a beautiful morning frost. I have been invited for another Guest House retreat, so stay tuned for more writing...
In the Guest House (pt 1)
The weekend before last, I had the honor and pleasure of staying two nights in the Guest House, in the center of the gardens. I did a lot of reading and writing, sitting and thinking; admiring the gardens; and soaking in the tub. Monday morning I woke up to a frosty...
Buds beneath snow
Last week, I emailed Tim Gruner, our head gardener, to thank him for bringing me on to help out in the garden this fall. He emailed me back, and ended the email with this: “As cold sets in I begin envisioning all the dormant energy waiting underground, in the...
Moon in Ice
The gardens are closed for the season. The trees have lost their brilliant color. The cold is settling in. Yet, we can still marvel at nature. We can still notice the beauty all around us. We can still take strolls outside, despite the cold, and simply pay attention....
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