Color, pattern, line and form: the elements all artists have worked with to create their masterpieces from the earliest carvings at Gobekli Tepe in Turkey, perhaps 12,000 years ago, right up to the most contemporary art works posted to the Web.
And our inspiration comes always from the beauty, balance, and intricate design of nature.
Whether the pattern of color on a leaf, the rhythm in a stand of trees, the form of a flower; we can only imitate the beauty born minute to minute around us.
Here is a quotation from one of the oldest texts known to our current civilization. The Hermetica comes to us from Egypt in at least 3000BC, perhaps earlier. 
It is attributed to Thoth, one of the elders who instructed the Pharaohs. 
Its long history sees its translation into Greek, which made it accessible to the Medicis of Italy, where its translation into Latin sparked the Renaissance. 
This translation is by the great Gnostic historians and philosophers Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy, for your enjoyment:
Contemplate Creation
Ask Atum to flash a ray of his illumination into your awareness,
giving you the power to grasp in thought his sublime Being.
For the invisible may only be seen with thoughts-which are themselves invisible.
If you can’t see thoughts, do you expect to see Atum?
Look with your mind, however, and he will appear to you, manifesting himself without reservation throughout the whole universe, so that you may see his image with your eyes and hold it with your two hands.
Do you think Atum is invisible? Don’t say that! Nothing is more visible than Atum. 
He created all things so that through them you could see him. This is Atum’s Great Heart- that he manifests himself in everything.
Everything can be known, including the insubstantial.
Just as Mind is known through thoughts, so Atum is known through his creation.
Atum is the all-encompassing author of entirety, weaving everything into the fabric of reality.
Because creation is visible, we can see the Creator, and this is the purpose of his creation. 
Since he is always creating, he can always be seen, so we should think and marvel, and realize that we are blessed with Knowledge of our Father.
…Look at matter filled full with Life, and see Atum pulsating with all he contains.
All photos by Woodland Gnome, 2013
Related articles
- The Being of Atum (shunyatadharma.wordpress.com)
- Gobekli Tepe – Oldest Temple and Labyrinth of the Stars (zen-haven.com)
Forest Garden 
Hello,
I don’t have a green thumb , love your post. I hope your information helps me, take care!
http://www.phillybookpicks.wordpress.com
Thank you! So glad you liked the post, and I do hope the information helps. Here is a beginning point: https://forestgardenblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/why-do-we-garden/ and all other efforts stem from answering this first question. Green thumbs grow on us- few are born with them. Good luck!
Natures gives so much to us.
Absolutely-
Thank you, Annie
and this one is the best; “And We created the world that We may be Known” (Al.-Quran)
“and there are wonders in the earth, sky and seas for you to enjoy. Which one of the wonders of your Lord will you denny?”
Truth is truth- all paths leading to the same beautiful source of light. Thank you my friend.