Monday, September 24, 2007

Our beloved arbor (My Sacred Life, day 31)


We put up this arbor years ago, picking the New Dawn roses planted at the base of each side of the arbor because we were given the advice that they were great climbers. We wanted to have the arbor covered all the way to the top by the rose branches.

The first couple of years, we tried training the rose branches. It turns out that New Dawn is a fast grower, but not necessarily a climber in this situation. Or, even particularly trainable.

We never got more than about four feet or so of the arbor covered on each side.

Last year, Julia had a brilliant idea: why not add a clematis to one side of the arch and see what happened? As you can see, the left side with only New Dawn shows the typical wild-and-crazy branches going where they darned-well please. The right side, though, where there is the rose visible toward the bottom, the clematis has taken off.

It won't make the top this year, as it has peaked as far as growth is concerned--time for those delicate, teeny white blossoms covering the vine to take their turn on stage, so no energy is devoted to growing now--yet we are encouraged.

So much like life, this arbor and our love of it. In the years we have worked with it, we have yet to see it become what we want it to be, but we love to sit in those blue chairs you can see in the background and look through the arbor toward the rest of the yard and other garden spaces within it.

For us, the lesson is clear: look toward what you hope to become, and love who you are right now. Loving who you are is the path to becoming who you seek to become.

7 comments:

The Dream said...

Rick-
What a lovely garden. Our climbing roses were doing magnificently on our arbor, but then Sunny (wildest yellow lab on the planet - and they said Marley was tough!) decided he didn't particularly care for roses, and yanked the whole thing out in record time ... good thing the arbor is cemented in. The wisteria has been growing madly, yet no blooms again this year ... hopefully, next year. I loved your comment about life ... couldn't agree more.

Monique Kleinhans said...

Thank you for that glorious wisdom...Look toward who you want to become while loving who you are right now....couldn't be more clear, more perfect, more necessary.

:)

Julie said...

That is pretty much my dream backyard right there.

I just wrote those words of wisdom in my notebook - the one I carry with me every day. Thanks for sharing them!

Melissa said...

I think the arbor is perfect in it's imperfection. Lovely!

patti said...

Such a pretty arbor, I can see why you love it so much. Very tru about loving who you are now being the key to who you are tomorrow.

Mich said...

What a beautiful, beautiful garden! I love it!!

Thanks for your kind comments on my blog.

mich

Anonymous said...

You garden is BEAUTIFUL!!!! I can't wait to spend more time at your site.