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I would love to join a “Dirty Hands” Garden Club;
One whose members know more about fertilizers
Than they do about wines…
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I’d want our meetings spent wandering through nurseries,
Learning from expert gardeners,
Or building community gardens…
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Not frittered away in chit chat over hors d’oeuvres .
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And all of us would be at least a little expert in something,
Glad to share what we’ve learned;
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And we all would love putting our hands in the dirt
To help something grow.
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My club would collect species, not dues;
Re-build ecosystems rather than plant ivy and box.
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We “dirty hands” gardeners can band together
In spirit, if not in four walls.
We can share plants and insights,
Instigate, propagate, and appreciate;
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Perhaps we can even help rehabilitate
Some sterile lawn somewhere
Into something which nurtures beauty
And feeds souls….
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A gift of Siberian Iris, from Barbara, growing in a new section of the garden.
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Others can judge flowers,
Decorate homes at Christmas
And organize tours.
These things are needed, too.
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(But I would rather be out in the garden;
Where cardinals preside over the morning meeting,
And hummingbirds are our special guests for the day.
The daily agenda ranges from watering to transplanting;
From pruning to watching for turtles and dragonflies.)
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We wear our muddy shoes and well worn gloves with pride,
Our spades and pruners always close at hand.
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We converse with Nature,
And re-build the web strand by strand,
Plant by plant.
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If this invitation speaks to you,
Perhaps we can work together,
From wherever we might find ourselves
Around the globe.
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We can each put our hands in the dirt
and create a garden,
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Nurture Beauty,
And restore health and vitality to our Earth, together.
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Does a “Dirty Hands” Garden Club
Appeal to you?
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I belonged (note past tense) to an official Federated Garden Club (note capital letters which add to the seriousness) and soon found I was a square peg in a round hole. As you say, garden tours and flower judging have their place but it was not for me. Thank Goodness I found a small garden club of other like-minded gardeners who don’t take themselves so awfully seriously. We have lively and informative programs and visit garden-themed locations. Hey, I just had a great idea. Maybe next year we’ll go tour Forest Lane Botanicals!!
Another experience we’ve shared, Barbara. But I’ve yet to find the small group for like minded gardening addicts. So far just a loose network of us friends and neighbors who visit and share- and these are friends I treasure 😉 Forest Lane Botanical will have fall dates, Barbara- maybe an autumn field trip? Wonderful to hear from you-
WG
I love your poetry and your garden…I’ll join your Dirty Hands Club!!!! Here’s to a beautiful World!!!!
Thank you, Gwen, and thank you for visiting Forest Garden today 😉 We’ll count you as another Charter member 😉 Yes, here’s to a more beautiful world! Cheers, WG
It’s fun to learn from other gardeners and master gardeners!! I absolutely love your Colocasia, “Blue Hawaii”, where di you get it? I gotta have one of those 🙂
http://www.plantdelights.com/Colocasia-esculenta-Blue-Hawaii-for-sale/Buy-Blue-Hawaii-Elephant-Ear/
From Plant Delights, of course 😉 Last season I kept it in a pot, but it has grown SO much better in the ground this year! It offset a baby over winter in the garage, which I planted out separately this spring. Both are doing extremely well, Michael, and I heartily recommend it. Those leaves remind me of a painting on silk, and are even more stunning in person than in the photo. If any offsets turn up, should I send one your way? The C. Pink China are already sending out lots of runner….
That sounds heavenly Woodland Gnome! I’d love it! And beautiful pictures, as always. Blessings to you, Sarah
Blessings to you, too, Sarah! You’re already a member, aren’t you 😉 Hope you’re well- WG
Sign me up, girlfriend, as a lifetime member! 😉
🙂 Somehow I knew you would be a charter, lifetime member of this one !
You betcha!
BTW, are you interested in Columbine ‘Nora Barlow’ seeds? I’m about to deadhead and cast away, so let me know if you are interested, but no worries if you aren’t. 🙂
Absolutely! I love Columbine. If you’ll write to me at woodlandgnome@zoho.com we can settle details for a trade 😉 Thank you for offering, Eliza- WG