~ Like the ripples in a pond, the work of one man spreads out and touches the lives of others ~

From The Soul of One ~ To The Hearts Of Many
TAYLOR HICKS MY IDOL
Taylor Hicks "The Distance"


Monday, July 14, 2008

Step Into My Garden



Welcome to my world .... a place filled with color and serenity ...
a place to soothe your soul!


The Taylor Hicks My Idol blog spot is patterned after my gardens, I've filled it with color, lots of soul, with hints of blues everywhere, and given it the nickname 'The Pond'.
My name is 'Bloom' and as you wander down this page, you'll find that I have come by this name honestly.

I have often referred to one of my favorite quotes by Taylor Hicks in my blogs, I think it is quite ingenious, and I wonder if one day it will appear in famous quotes by Taylor Hicks.

"It's not the dirt I need to plant my musical flower"

Taylor was speaking in reference to the environment he found himself in after winning American Idol.
Thankfully that environment has now changed and we are eagerly awaiting a new release of his music, where his creativity is now free to be unleased!
Plus we have the release of his "Early Works" next month!

I've borrowed Taylor's term, Musical Flower, to introduce you to one of my other passions (yes, I really do have another passion besides Taylor).

These are photos of my garden taken over the last two years, along with some of my favorite garden poems and quotes.
They are my musical flower and I'll hope you'll enjoy your stroll thru my gardens as well as the beautifully soothing music provided by my old friend Bobby Militello!

Please note that some of the photos are very large and I didn't want to downsize them, just click on them to view the entire image.

Photobucket

Come with me take my hand
We'll walk in the garden's light
Peacefulness and scented air
With flowers to delight


Take the time to get away
Spend some time with me
Walking in the beauty of
Nature's love we see


Want to spend a little time
See that we are blest
Greatest things upon this earth
With colors brightly dressed


Feel the warm air drifting by
Sweetly kiss your face
Silence in the beauty of
Love we can embrace


Take time to walk with me
Such happiness to share
Flowers blooming all around
Sweet velvet everywhere


Need a place to get away
Leave the world outside
Take this time to find yourself
With garden loved supplied.



While walking in my garden,
I find such comfort and sweet peace.
I feel as if I'm standing at the threshhold
of my Master's feet.

So much grandeur;
so much beauty there,
I find, often, it becomes
my little house of prayer.

I commune with My Savior,
In Him, I find perfect rest;
As I look upon my garden,
I feel so very blessed.

I speak to the folded ears of the roses,
of all my cares and pain;
Like them, I need a blessing,
a refreshment from the showers and the rain.

I touch the fragile blossoms,
feel their softness at my fingertips;
My spirit is renewed,
at the nourishment that God gives.

While walking in my garden,
I find such comfort and sweet peace.
I feel as if I'm standing at the threshhold,
of my Master's feet.

© Sandra Lewis Pringle



A Garden Lives within our soul,
A secret place so dear,
A quaint and lovely part of earth
That brings us beauty here.
The blossoms catch the morning sun,
The air is fresh and sweet,
At evening tide the shadows fall
When day is then complete.



A garden is a garden spot
Where comfort fills our heart,
A peaceful place where quiet dwells
As each new day does start.
There's loveliness and tender faith,
As raindrops softly fall,
To bless each wondrous growing things,
As nature then stands tall.


A fragrance fills this quiet spot
With peaceful, tender bliss,
Where God looks down on each small plant
And sends an angel's kiss.
To walk and dream 'neath cotton clouds,
To feel the warmth of Spring,
And gently tuck the world away
As robins nest and sing.



There's promise in the hope we find
As seasons come and go.
The laughter of the Summer breeze,
The touch of Winter snow,
A miracle - a friendship real,
The smile that loving gives,
While every heart finds blessedness
Because a garden lives.

©1997 Garnett Ann Schultz




Gardens... should be like lovely, well-shaped girls:
all curves, secret corners, unexpected deviations,
seductive surprises and then still more curves.
~ H.E. Bates, A Love of Flowers ~


Photobucket








Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made,
and forgot to put a soul into.
~ Henry Beecher (1858) ~



I saw a butterfly today,
the color of the sun.
It made the garden dance for joy,
the flowers, every one.
It chased the wind's
bright fairy lips.
It hovered near a tree.
Sometimes it seemed
the butterfly was
writing poems for me.





As a flower in the garden
Bending toward the sun,
Unfolds it's tiny petals
One, by one, by one...
So faith expands it's beauty
Until at last it grows
Into life's lasting flower...
The heart's fair perfect rose.






Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket


There's little risk in becoming overly proud of one's garden,
because gardening by its very nature is humbling.
It has a way of keeping you on your knees.







If you'd like to view more garden photos or to inquire as to the name of a specific plant, let me know by leaving a comment here.
Though I do have a confession to make .... I'm going to have to dig deep into my fuzzy memory bank and unearth the name for you, I have so many varieties that through the years I've forgotten what exactly I do have!




Today's cup:
“Man should hear a little music,
read a little poetry,
and see a fine picture every day of his life,
in order that worldly cares may not obliterate
the sense of the beautiful implanted in the human soul.”
~Johann Wolfgang Goethe~





Music provided by Bobby Militello,
The Dave Brubeck Quartet


5 comments:

THawks said...

Bloom, WOW! You SHOULD be proud of your garden, it is incredibly beautiful. It is obvious you spend alot of time in it. I too, love having my hands in the dirt, it brings me peace. I am also a big fan of Taylor Hicks so of course I really enjoy your blog! Thanks for the peek into your garden and have a great day.

DidNotExpectThat said...

AMAZING GARDEN, Bloom! You really did put your heart and soul into it. Hope you are doing well and I love the new look of the blog. Keep it up, girl!

Bloom said...

Thawks thanks for letting me know you enjoyed your peak inside my gardens. I just came inside and boy is it hot out there, my thirsty plants needed a refreshing drink and me too!

It's nice to hear that you share both of my passions. They each feed our souls and give us so much pleasure and joy.

Pure pleasure is taking Taylor's music out into the garden with you and watching the butterflies dance ... they love it too!

You too have a great day ... a bloomin' wonderful day, and thank you for letting us know that you enjoy your visits with us here at The Pond!



Hey Darling ... I so did not expect to see your name here, what a pleasant surprise!

I expect this is the only way you'll ever view my gardens :-(

Firstly, so many miles separate us ... and secondly ... if I couldn't get you to sit outside with me in your own backyard ... what are the chances I could coerce you into mine ?!?

Miss you girl, come visit us again, and thanks for the kudos on the new look!

KarinP said...

Bloom, the tranquility of your garden along with the music that accompanied the walk brings one much serenity.

The pictures are gorgeous and you have a beautiful place to gather your thoughts in. I can't imagine how much work it is to keep the garden in such splendour. It is breathtaking!

Thank you for allowing me to tiptoe through your secret garden. It is magnificent!

Anonymous said...

Your garden looks like quite a sanctuary and I've enjoyed strolling through it today. Gardening is good for the soul, it has such restorative powers and brings about a sense of peace, and it's a good place to gather your thoughts.
Thank you for the garden tour, your photos are beautiful.