What is it about seeing beautiful flowers growing that makes one feel as though, despite poverty, terrorism, foreclosures, illness and violence, there is hope and beauty in the world? I am not sure but I do know that when I visited Gibbs Gardens last week, it sure lifted my spirits. The tree canopy kept the temperatures down as my friend and I walked, talked, oohed and ahhed our way through acres of flowers, trees and shrubs. It took me out of my doldrums almost immediately.
What event had brought me down from my usual "happy with life" attitude? Someone very close to me is moving far away. I simply cannot imagine my life without this person and her family nearby. I do not spend hours each month with her but knowing I could if I wanted to keeps my spirits up. Her children are part of my daily thoughts and, of course, they are leaving my community, too. Sure, there are airplanes, cars and telephones, texts, emails, and Skype to keep us connected but these conveniences do not really connect people. Sitting across the table, sharing life's events face-to-face, and seeing physical responses to one another's comments is what connects people. And so, I will miss this family as I am sure others will and it does have me down in the dumps these days.
But who can look at these photographs and not feel the urge to wander a garden? It will be my therapy this summer. I will search for consolation in Nature as so many have for centuries and the pain will diminish, the tears will fall less frequently and I will call my dear friend in her new state and tell her all about my explorations.
Now that I have a plan, I feel better.
“I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one.”
― Edna St. Vincent Millay
