"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, to all bravely await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony."
Tree peony bud
Beautiful hostas
William Henry Channing (1810-1884)
These are the words suggested to us by the lovely Marsha over at Splenderosa for her very first By Invitation Only blog party. Asked if we could comment on the quote in whichever way we felt best exemplified our style actually turned out to be harder than I thought. I decided to answer with my photos.
I very much try to live my life as Mr. Channing described. I see examples of the elegance and symphony with nature in my garden every day. While I am all about color and flowers in both my home and work, I thought I'd share with you the natural beauty of the subtle, quiet plants that we take for granted through the seasons.
Fern fronds
Hostas on the left and variegated lily of the valley on the right
Jack in the pulpit
Ferns in birch log
Border with lettuce in foreground and arugula in back
Please join my friends and come on the blog walk with me!
MARSHA HARRIS
YVONNE PRATT
CHARLOTTA WARD
GREET LEFEVRE
CATHERINE ROBINSON
ANNIE BOUTERSE
COTY FARQUHAR
DEBORAH PETERSON
DUSTJACKET ATTIC
SHARI MILLER
TINA
MONA THOMPSON
FIFI FLOWERS
JACQUELINE MUMFORD
KARIN JANSKY
VICKI ARCHER
CECILIA GONZALEZ
RENEE GRANIER & ANGELA FOSTER
JANELL
LISA
CHRISTINA FLUEGGE
Thank you, Marsha!
Posts
Ann, Soooo beautiful. You indeed live these words and surround yourself in beauty that is carefully cultivated by you.
ReplyDeleteA perfect pairing of words and images....xv
ReplyDeleteEach HOSTIA is such a beauty!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Germany!
Franka
What a beautiful garden you have...lovely interpretation of William Henry Channing's words.
ReplyDeleteCatherine
xx
Annie - I think if I could look at only one type of image for the rest of my life it would be of green and white plants:).
ReplyDeleteDear Annie,
ReplyDeleteYour photographs are stunning and show us that, the best things in life are free and, the trappings of materialistic things mean nothing. I am one of the 'By Invitation Only' gang and it is a privilege to be included with you. XXXX
Annie, such beautiful images that make us remember to stop and take notice of the beauty around us.
ReplyDeleteAngela and Renee
Annie I am new to blogging and have just found the most wonderfully inspiring community telling the most beautiful stories - yours is one of the best and have added you to my list - hope you don't mind. Francesca
ReplyDeleteBeautiful interpretation of the quote. I love that you used your own beloved photos.
ReplyDeleteDid you make that Hydrangea wreath? It's stunning.
With love from Sweden.
x Charlotta
Space for Inspiration
Such amazing garden and wonderful post too:-)*
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for share it with us,dear Annie!
P.S.
I would like to make some nice post about Marsha's inspirational invitation....
Have a very fabulous day,
***Violetta***
Beautiful photos! Hosta's leaves are so stunning.
ReplyDeleteHydrangeas are my autumn favorites!/Anja
The beauty of plants and nature never ceases to amaze me. Thank you for capturing the essence of this beauty through your lens and sharing it with us. Salut.
ReplyDeleteJust simply beautiful - nature at its best!
ReplyDeletexxxkarin
Words to live by....
ReplyDeleteLove all your pics, especially the ferns in a birch log!
I'm your newest follower and would love for you to follow me.
Have a great day!!
Annie, this is just beautiful & is indeed a perfect interpretation of our theme. Thank you so so much for participating and making our 1st event a smashing success. I think we will have lots of women loving what we do and will come back time & again to visit. Cruising along the wild Alaskan coastline, I completely realize the perfection of Mother Nature...left completely untouched she is perfect, of course. Sending love, sweetie.....
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely sense of tranquility and peace come through with those words!! One feels settled and content just reading them. May I repost them (and link back to your blog) in a future blog post of mine?
ReplyDeleteAnother set of words that has the same calming effect on me, set in the form of a prayer by John Greenleaf Whittier:
Drop Thy still dews of quietness til all our strivings cease.
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.
Thanks for posting, Ann!
Lisa