June 3, 2013 - A Day of Full Senses

Visual loveliness at the close of the day

Today was spent in the garden and visiting with good friends.  Both are a blessing - both add richness to my life.  The day began with a thorough workout, followed by garden work.  (Breakfast managed to slip in there, somewhere...)  The garden work included a joyous squashing of snails.  My apologies to those of you who would leave them in place, but they eat far too much.  I share with deer (they nibble the tips of the roses) with the robins (they eat the strawberries on the edges of the beds) but the snails will wholesale gobble up a plant.  So, the lovely sounds of cracking shells, as I stomped my way through the garden. 

 

It was accompanied by the sound of birdsong - orioles, blackbirds, robins, meadowlarks were all in full song this morning, and again this evening. 

 

Then there are the scents - the roses, of course, but especially the honeysuckle and the mock orange, blooming at the same time, perfuming two gardens with wonderful sweetness.

 

For the sense of touch?  My sturdy rototiller, which all but obliterates my senses as it rids the grounds of thousands of unwanted seedlings.  And the touch of good, sandy loam as I transplant the seedlings I do want.

 

Finally, the sense of taste.  Ripe strawberries!  Some spinach cut fresh from the garden.  And a single ripe raspberry.  (I have no idea why it is ripening so early - but I enjoyed it!)

 

I think I learned my appreciation of the various senses from the time my mother visited my husband and me while we were living in Maryland.  Her memories of that trip were based on her senses - the scent of honeysuckle, the sight of lightning bugs, and the song of the mockingbird.  All were new to her - all were imprinted permanently - she often mentioned them to me.  I am thankful she and my father taught me to pay attention, and to take delight in what surrounds me.