Dear Reader:

It wasn’t until ‘the bug (s) from hell‘ came along recently that I, now, fully understand the importance of having a “sanctuary” in or around our homes.  The term sanctuary can be a safe place of refuge or a natural reserve (like a bird sanctuary.) Mine is both…it is my garden and yard.

If I had not had my garden to retreat to and find solace in its beauty and serenity I would have probably burned up from “cabin fever” by now. This garden plaque I once took a photo of (that Beverly Baruito kept in her garden at Edisto Beach) best sums up what my garden means to me in the realm of healing.

I decided to pick out my top five favorite sanctuaries that have kept me sane through this “maddening malaise.” The sanctuaries change constantly… depending on what’s blooming or growing or by simply calling out my name.

1) How can I be unhappy when I pull in my driveway and see this beautiful scene of sunflowers, pansies, bottle tree of all colors….”I am home.” Surely…I am the most blessed of all women.

2) Harriett’s day lilies bloom more abundantly each year…in different clusters around the garden…they appear quite regal with their blooms of gold glittering in the sunlight. What an awesome asset they have been to the garden. A special “Shout-out” to Harriett’s generosity!

3) Here comes the Queen….The Eva Cate Japanese Maple was the last to bloom this year as if the queen was waiting on her three “man-servants” to clear the way in the procession for her debut. The Queen! Unlike the grandson’s red maples…the Queen’s tree is a green maple. Since I knew nothing about these trees when I purchased them I had no idea there were different kinds/colors but they must have.. it all worked out perfectly.

4) The Gerber Daisy Corner- This sanctuary just makes me smile…every day another little gerber pokes its head up and beams back at the world. It is hard to be sad around Gerber Daisies.

5) The “Shared Co-op” Rosebush…..from my front porch. The beautiful rose bush is covered in buds and grows more breath-taking day by day. It has two proud grandmothers…Boo and my neighbor Vickie!

So until tomorrow…Let’s find a sanctuary near where we live so we can have a place to go  when we just need to converse with God for a little while and get caught up with Him.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh