"I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers."-- Claude Monet   I will never be a painter in the vein of Monet.  I played with painting at certain junctures in my life discovering an inner child who marveled at the self expression available when I took a paintbrush in my … [Read more...]

I try very hard to not work myself into a stressful state.  I sometimes fail.  I am someone who may look like she is even keeled and able to handle most things thrown her way – for the most part true – but the outcome of the unexpected can put me off balance.  It often happens … [Read more...]

   "An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life."        I am a fan of nurseries.  So much so that you can count on the fact that I will visit one at least once in the week, no matter what time of year.  A better week involves more … [Read more...]

I take a deep breath and realize that I don’t know what to say next.  Life has a way of doing that.  You stand at a precipice and wonder, what now?  I am feeling exactly that.  I look around me and recognize I have a lot to be grateful for, but what does that have to do with … [Read more...]

Merlin caring for Bond  Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are. -   Alfred Austin,  1835-1913          One of the things that strikes me about Merlin, aside from his demanding wild ways, is his kindness.  At certain points of the day, we see him sleeping, cuddling … [Read more...]

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language. -  Martin Buber    At any given point in the day I can look in the eyes of an animal and see a language like no other.   There's Rocky with drooping almost pathetic eyes that you could get lost in.   Tucker's amber … [Read more...]

A garden is not just its flowers, shrubs and trees; it is also butterflies, birds, bees and bugs.  If I stand still long enough, I try to consider the interrelatedness that is inherent among the visitors to Merlin’s Garden.  They are abundant no doubt.  What is their role in the … [Read more...]

I found Tucker on a Wenatchee, Washington animal shelter web site. His name at the time was Scooter, hardly fitting to the dog I know now. He was six months old, 45 pounds, all black. He was found wandering the streets in Chelan, a popular lake resort town. When I saw his photo … [Read more...]

The angel room in Merlin's Garden was never planned.  I just stood on the soil and looked around me and thought why not start here.  I drew an imaginary line to create an entrance.   I pulled weeds and hauled soil and compost to nourish the earth.  Calling it the angel room came … [Read more...]

It is hard to consider letting go if you hang on to a grievance so long the loss of which would throw you off balance.  We come to know those we love from different vantage points sure we have summed up who they are.  We cling to our vision of who they are because we are so sure … [Read more...]