A Peaceful Luxor4U Garden

[Quinonostante]

[face=Tahoma]I know many of you have lovely gardens and find that gardens are magical, inspirational and peaceful places.

I thought we could have our own Luxor4U virtual online garden.

It would be great if members would post pictures, write poems, chat about why they enjoy gardens.[/face]

[Quinonostante]

[face=Tahoma]Planting the first flower[/face]

[Miriamkhalifa]

A lovely idea !

[TIM]

Yes, a lovely idea!

Here's one of a number of shots I took last summer of the damselflies in our garden. We have a pond where they breed. This is a pair mating on our crab apple tree. The male, at the front, has the female around the neck with pincers at the end of his body and she is pushing her abdomen forward to pick up a packet of sperm that he has secreted. But I just love the way their bodies make a heart shape while they are entwined!

[Quinonostante]

Absolutely beautiful

[HEPZIBAH]

[TIM]

Now that is my absolute dream! Where is it?? Does it even exist in the "real" world....???

BTW, I actually mean a garden like that features in my dreams!

[HEPZIBAH]

Now that is my absolute dream! Where is it?? Does it even exist in the "real" world....???

BTW, I actually mean a garden like that features in my dreams!

[face=Comic Sans MS]
Yes Tim, if you mean the garden above it is a real garden in England. If I remember correctly it is a National Trust property in the Cotswolds, but I can't remember off hand which one.[/face]

[jewel]

Fountain at sizergh castle

I like the one that you so often see on sun dials fountains and the likes:

The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer to God's heart in the garden
Than anywhere else on earth
Dorothy Gurney
1858 - 1952

I am also a fan of W H Davies who wrote the well known poem "leisure" (what is this life..if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare...)

Butterfly on buddleia bush

Truly Great
MY walls outside must have some flowers,
My walls within must have some books;
A house that's small; a garden large,
And in it leafy nooks.
A little gold that's sure each week;
That comes not from my living kind,
But from a dead man in his grave,
Who cannot change his mind.
A lovely wife, and gentle too;
Contented that no eyes but mine
Can see her many charms, nor voice
To call her beauty fine.
Where she would in that stone cage live,
A self-made prisoner, with me;
While many a wild bird sang around,
On gate, on bush, on tree.
And she sometimes to answer them,
In her far sweeter voice than all;
Till birds, that loved to look on leaves,
Will doat on a stone wall.
With this small house, this garden large,
This little gold, this lovely mate,
With health in body, peace in heart--
Show me a man more great.
W.H. Davies


I have this one in my office:
"In the garden
I find peace
I find myself
Within me ---
trembling leaves
birdsong
the smile
of the enlightened one

[WIZARD]

Spring.


Spring! Beautiful Spring; how many more shall I see?
For Father Time has cast his spell; and taken toll of me!
Winter days are passing; of darkness, chill and gloom,
Heralding the prospect; when sunshine soon will loom.

It is now we see the wonder; of nature's yearly birth,
As Spring lambs dance and frolic; like white horses on the surf.
Spring's warmth brings back to Mother Earth; as we see,
Green tender buds unfolding; on each and every tree.

With great amazement in my eyes; I watch new life unfold,
From land o'er winter sleeping; in forest's chill and cold.
First come the snowdrops, then the crocus; and bulbs so bright and fair,
So sweet the smell of pollen; soon gently fills the air.

The camellias take on; their vivid cloaks of red,
Tall lilies rising up; from their loamy bed.
Flowers and people; turn to the sun,
Spring in their step; bright days begun.

Renewed with nature's; own sweet gift,
The sense of being; our spirits lift.
We welcome the summer; that heads our way,
With pleasures anew; to fill our day.

Life can be happy; but so often sad,
Let's be thankful; for all that we had.
With more spring times coming; to brighten our day,
Enjoy nature's blessings; being happy, bright and gay.

Wizard L4u 16th February 2008
________________________________

[Quinonostante]

[face=Lucida Console]There is nothing you can see that is not a flower; there is nothing you can think that is not the moon.[/face]
Basho

[Mrs. Doubtfire]

Not many people think of gardens in Egypt, but here are a few pics of my friends garden on the West Bank. It is situated within a private family hotel and is open to the public. You can wander round and look at the many diverse plants you had never expected to see in Egypt. You can also take lunch, tea or snacks there whilst sitting in the gardens, or you could arrange to go there for an evening meal, Egyptian-style. If you want to visit the gardens, send me a p.m. and I will give you the precise west bank location in Gezira together with their telephone number. The pics, whilst are beautiful do not really do justice to the variety of plants to be seen there.

[Mrs. Doubtfire]

[jewel]

That looks lovely Mrs D - a bit like a rainforest with all the exotic plants but lovely to see the water and a lawn, must visit one day

[Lisak]

Deffo on my to do list later in the year.
It looks beautiful Mrs. D,:)

[TIM]

Very nice indeed.

[Quinonostante]

To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
Chuang-tzu

[jewel]

That is lovely Q and very "tao"
I found these poems:

http://weeinspirations.com/garden.html

http://weeinspirations.com/favouritegarden.html

Some of my favourites on gardens:

The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music,
of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot
thrive in the absence of a garden. If you don't want paradise, you are not human;
and if you are not human, you don't have a soul.
- Thomas Moore, The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life, 1996, p. 101



I have come to terms with the future. From this day onward I will
walk easy on the earth. Plant trees. Kill no living things. Live in
harmony with all creatures. I will restore the earth where I am.
Use no more of its resources than I need. And listen, listen to
what it is telling me.
- M. J. Slim Hooey


Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar.
- William Wordsworth, 1798


To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
- William Blake, Auguries of Innocence, 1863


There is no spot of ground, however arid, bare or ugly,
that cannot be tamed into such a state as may give an
impression of beauty and delight.
- Gertrude Jekyll

[PRchick]

From a local botanical garden:

[PRchick]

A few waterfalls and hiking trails here in my home state. Enjoy.


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