Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy? ~ Rabindranath Tagore



Having no fountain or other real water feature (other than a birdbath), my garden depends on faux representations of water to recreate the serenity of the Japanese-style garden. One trick I like to employ is using hostas in blue pots that evoke a cool, spray-like feeling. Another trick is to plant a stone pot full of plumbago with a topiary form that forces the plumbago to assume the appropriate fountain appearance. Plumbago is, of course, tropical, so being in a northern climate, I grow it as an annual. Its lovely sprays of true blue flowers are very soothing to the eye.

Perfect relief on a hot, humid, midsummer day.

Light-enchanted sunflower, thou
Who gazest ever true and tender
On the sun's revolving splendour.

~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca (Shelley's translation)

Wild rose,
Grow the way you want to.
Wild rose,
I only want you that way.

This lovely image is the Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way, a mere 2.5 million light years away. The Andromeda Galaxy is located in the constellation Andromeda and is the farthest object that can be seen with the naked eye. To read more about the Andromeda Galaxy, click here.

To read more about the myth of Andromeda and Perseus, click here.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier



I picked this image today because it reminds me a little of the blue sky and white clouds I see out my office window. Of all the places I could be, I'd much rather be sitting quietly under the almond tree, listening to the music.