Paradise

I've just spent a week in paradise. I didn't go to Florida or the mountains or even on a cruise, though I know from experience that, that is nice also. Rather, I spent a week at home on these three acres of land, with my husband, and all we did was dig, carry,rake, clean up, transplant and plant. Most days we worked until the light was gone but with plenty of breaks to enjoy our surroundings we went to bed, each night, worry free and slept peacefully. We had time to be with and talk with one another. Discussions about our 'jobs' diminished after the first day. We got dirty, sweaty and scratched up. My 'spa' treatment was a good back rub from my husband. If you are a gardener, as we are, time stands still when you are gardening. Because of the warm spring we actually could almost see the hostas growing. At the beginning of the week they were just edging out of the ground. As I speak today, most of them especially the early cream and white varieties are at full peak and gorgeous. Most of our flowering trees and bushes seemed to bloom at the same time as the fragrance of Lilacs and Viburnum followed us around our property. The star of the show was one of our white dogwood trees which exploded overnight with bright, white blooms. A second sun on this little plot of ground. Early in the week we transplanted a young dogwood which was in the wrong spot. We dug it up in the early morning and had the new spot prepared and ready. We waited all week thinking that it was damaged but finally today I saw leaves. I'm sure we won't have blooms this year but that is ok. It is better to transplant young trees before the sap starts to run,but gardening is about taking chances, sometimes educated decisions but usually gut feelings. We divided one hosta and a few daylillies. Even though I worked hard physically I am returning to work with a well rested mind and a stronger body. I hope that I can hang on to that as the weeks dissolve into summer. As I work with my living canvas I am filled with a reverence for life. What a perfect spring!