Backyard flower garden gets the dishes done
COFFEE WITH WARREN, with Warren Harbeck
Cochrane Eagle, August 25, 2004
My favourite coffee companion has finally figured out how to get me to do the dishes without grumbling. Mary Anna planted a garden.
Now, this isn't just any old garden. It's the fulfillment of a dream my wife of 41 years has cherished since childhood.
It's an English country garden of sorts, resplendent with red, white and pink roses; giant poppies; daisies galore; and a profusion of other blossoms I refer to simply as "pretty yellow flowers," "tall blue flowers," and "round orange flowers with yellow centres." Oh yes, there's a lush patch of fit-for-a-pie rhubarb, too. And there's even a rockery, a lovers' swing, an arbour entrance, and standing just inside the arbour, a three-foot-high statue of St. Francis of Assisi.
(St. Francis is there to remind us that life – and marriage in particular – is like a garden: the more time we spend on our knees, the more beautiful it gets.)
So, what does this have to do with getting the dishes done? It's like this: There's a spectacular view of the garden from our kitchen window. The sink's by the window, too, and while I'm standing there enjoying Mary Anna's floral handiwork, I might as well make myself useful – seems logical to her!
I thought you might enjoy the view, too, so here are some photos.
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Happy Birthday, Mary Anna! And thanks for filling my life with beauty.
© 2004 Warren Harbeck
JoinMe@coffeewithwarren.com