… “The Whole World is a Garden”

Dear Reader:

I am always so delighted when I find a book I have tucked away for a rainy day read… and then re-discover it …on a rainy day!

Actually yesterday didn’t turn out as rainy as forecasters predicted-much to my chagrin-the plants all need a long cool drink! The Secret Garden author, Frances Hodgson Burnett gave the well-known title quote.

From the beginning of world history gardens have played important roles in historical events and even battles. Spiritually we start civilization with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and Jesus spends his last hours in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is just something so serene and powerful about being surrounded by the beauty of a garden -especially one you ” raised” ( with a lot of help) from infancy to maturity!

Alex Trebek -( Jeopardy) got his last wish-to spend his final hours in a swing in his garden with his wife watching the horizon. What a lovely way to leave life. I can think of no better place than saying my final farewell in my garden!

Ponder all the life lessons we take with us from a garden. Commitment, Continuous Care, Hard Work, Patience, Faith-these attributes teach us how to be good citizens, good friends, good neighbors, and good members of the human race-sharing and distributing what brings us nourishment of the body and soul.

So until tomorrow… the art of gardening restores us to our senses, both literally and figuratively; it propels us away from screens and walls and gets us out into the world!

Today is my favorite day! Winnie the Pooh

Doodle and Lassie arrived yesterday bearing mother’s vanilla wafer cake Doodle made from an earlier blog post in which I shared the recipe! Oh what a gift of memories and delight! Lucille would be so proud Doodle! Delicious!

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”

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