For You: Another Preview of Our Upcoming Book

What My Garden Told Me

Hi everyone!

Today I’m sharing with you another of the inspiring sections of our soon-to-be-released book, What My Garden Told Me. You will be able to order your own copy on 1st December on Amazon.

This little gift book contains 21 topics which were inspired by objects in and around the garden at Evergreen. To add to your enjoyment, each topic is accompanied by a watercolour painting by Merribeth Ainsworth.

The topics include one of the most popular features at Evergreen - a statue we call The Lady.

And here she is with a timely message for you.

The Lady 

Watercolour painting, The Lady, by Merribeth Ainsworth

There’s a feature in the garden at Evergreen. It’s a statue we call The Lady. 

We bought her from Bunnings, so she’s mass-produced. Despite these humble beginnings, she makes a unique statement as she stands among the flowers, a quiet, slim, four foot tall, smooth-lined woman with a slightly bowed head topped by an Asian-style conical hat. Her face is almost always shaded because of that hat.

Bees, beetles and butterflies are part of her life. Sometimes she’s surrounded by native everlasting daisies, or her feet are covered

by drooping parsley needing a drink. Other times she’s barely visible between towering fennel in full flower. Large, brown-shelled snails crawl up her and tiny birds perch briefly on her hat. She provides a sensuous surface for wind-blown shadows to dance on and turns a darker colour in the rain.

I watch her through the kitchen window, hoping that one day I’ll catch her magically moving.

The Lady is made of concrete. Faint cracks are starting to show, especially on her hat and around her neck. One day Rob may have to glue her head back on so she can keep gracing our garden.

In the meantime, she whispers suggestions to me:

You’re too busy. Come sit in the garden beside me.

Be quiet. Be still.

Let the sun warm you and nature gladden your heart.

Statues speak to us if we are silent and take the time to listen.

Silence always makes everything larger, deeper, More patient, and more compassionate.

Richard Rohr

If you enjoyed this piece, you'll love the rest of the book!

This is giving you a tempting glimpse of the cover of the book!

What My Garden Told Me, will be available for purchase on Amazon.com on 1st December, in time for Christmas!

With love, Marlane