To me hath been granted a garden,
Tho only for my care,
To nourish the plants and flowers that may be growing there.
Twas God that granted this garden,
For only the other day
The owner, my neighbor left it,
To use it, as I may.
To God will have grown these flowers,
And to God shall they be given, And I but the steward in that back yard,
For our Father who art in Heaven.
There’ll be some for the poor and lowly,
And some for those sick in bed,
And others for those in hospitals,
And for the children whose parents are dead.
And so shall all the flowers,
Be a hope for those whose life
Is shut from the beauties given by God,
Who are lost in this world of strife.
And everywhere in this garden,
That God hath granted me,
Shall love be planted and grow,
And I his servant be.
As for the blossoms that come there,
A message each shall bring,
Beauty and love and joy and hope,
And every flower shall sing.
—Excerpted from In the Garden by Murshid Sam, Samuel L. Lewis
The last roses. Photograph and copyright by /barbara Mattio, 2016
From the greenhouse. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
The tropical. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
Pollination. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
The flame of blossoms. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
The gathering of the Monarch butterfly. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
They track the Monarch butterflies to follow their migration paths. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
Mums in the fall garden. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
Art for the garden is whimsical. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
The Impostor. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Matttio, 2016
The pale beauties. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
Life is pink. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
Container garden. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
Water fountain. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
Garden Sculpture. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
Magniflower. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016
Namaste
Barbara
idealisticrebel 