Monday, January 05, 2009

Bloomin' Tuesday

This is another unusual Bloomin' Tuesday post, but it's perfect for the month of January when our gardens in Colorado are bloomless and the earth is nothing but a frozen tundra. For Christmas my mother made me a beautiful needlepoint sampler. For as long as I can remember she has had an interest in needlepoint and our family has occasionally been the lucky recipient of her stunning pieces. She's made some gorgeous creations over the years, some abstract in design, but many with a garden theme of one kind or another. This particular beauty comes from Ehrman Tapestry, is called "Garden Sampler," and was designed by Magie Hollingworth. Just beautiful. A family heirloom to be sure.

The sampler depicts all the scenes found in a garden. The closer you inspect it, the more you discover. It's filled with gardening tools, flowers, topiaries, gardening gloves, a watering can, a wheelbarrow, paths and little critters of all kinds ... doves, dogs, ducks, geese, flies, bees and butterflies. In the middle -- a home.

She tacked a letter on the back of the frame and wrote:

...Each stitch taken with appreciation for the beauty you have brought into my life. I have loved being in your garden for all the pleasure it has given me over the years. Nature's beauty has a spiritual quality about it. I have a real appreciation for all your hard work to make your "little bit of Eden" the beautiful and serene place it is...

Pretty special, wouldn't you say? And just so you know... my love of gardening was nurtured by my parent's example.

To see more Bloomin' Tuesday posts or to participate yourself, go to Ms. Green Thumb Jean's.