We live on a high hill, not quite a mountain for sure, but a hill for sure. We live way beyond any city limits so the air is still quite good! Gardening is not always easy, there’s physical labor involved don’t you know!
It’s not just a matter of dirty hands and broken fingernails, it’s the intensity of our work as gardeners that takes our breath away at times. We actually get to see, smell, feel, eat - if we raise food crop, that just blows us away.
I can block everything else out and be in a completely different place after a rotten day at the office; now I’m in the garden. I can tend to things that only want my attention and don’t talk back except by letting me know they need food or nutrients or perhaps a stake or some pruning or water.
In turn, the garden will give back to me food, wondrous smells, works of nature that up close are so inspiring that they cause me to be completely stunned. 
Whether it’s containers or acres or raised beds or rows to be hoe’d, these are the gardens we tend. They bring all of us much joy and so much knowledge that we share with each other here.
I know I’ll never be able to contend with the song of the whippoorwill, nor the tree swallows shrill cry over their brood, 
nor the buzzing of the bees, but sing or hum-sing I shall. Gardeners are a special group of people. Thanks for reading and no, I won’t be doing an audio – let’s leave that for the birds!
Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on August 17, 2007 at 1:13 AM:Dea, what a wonderful sentiment! Heck, I thought you wrote that pretty poem, until you told us otherwise. Love the pics, too. Yes, gardening certainly is therapeutic. It makes one's heart sing, even if not the voice.
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on August 17, 2007 at 5:47 AM:
That sounds like an old hymn a friend of mine used to sing - Beulah Land. Sweet pictures, and now I'm hungry! Great job, again.
xxx, Carrie
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Posted by BDale60 (from Warren, PA) on August 17, 2007 at 6:06 AM:
Lovely article, Dea. As somebody who loves both singing and gardening, I think you struck the perfect chord with your sentiments here. You can come sing in my garden anytime!!
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on August 17, 2007 at 8:05 AM:
Great job
I like to get out in the garden at dawn, it's peaceful and I like to watch the animals and just think about how lucky I am.
Paul
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Posted by senlarrs (from Harrisburg, PA) on August 17, 2007 at 8:14 AM:
Uplifting, thanks for a great beginning of my day!!!
Larry
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on August 17, 2007 at 8:46 AM:
Thanks, Dea. You made my day! I guess you learned the word-wrap feature on that article! Almost as inspiring as the poetry.
gloria
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Posted by dave (from Jacksonville, TX) on August 17, 2007 at 9:29 AM:
Carrie, that's the same hymn. :)
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on August 17, 2007 at 9:50 AM:
Is it? Duuh....
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Posted by debnes_dfw_tx (from Fort Worth, TX) on August 17, 2007 at 10:17 AM:
Lovely article Dea!
I sing and hum all the time in my garden. I sing to my caterpillars while I am replenishing their cages with fresh larval host plant. The old DG name I use to have was deborahsongs before I subscribed, if that tells ya anything.
Your garden and 3 acres is a feast for the eyes! Someone up there hears all of us singing together, and it is surely a glorious sound when it reaches His ear.
Bless you!!
:-Debnes
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Posted by Garden4ever (from Plymouth, WI) on August 17, 2007 at 10:38 AM:
I love your article. Thank you very much for expressing so well what so many of us gardners feel.
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on August 17, 2007 at 10:40 AM:
"Far away the noise of strife in vain to me is calling
I am safely sheltered here protected by God's hands,
Doubt and fear and sins of earth dah dah dah dah dah dah dah,
None of these shall move me from Beu - lah land!"
dave, I can't get the words to scan.
xx, Carrie
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on August 17, 2007 at 11:00 AM:
Carrie: It all rhymes, anyway. scan, land, hands . . ..
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on August 17, 2007 at 11:16 AM:
LOL! I heard (thank you Dea) a recording of her version and it is NOT the same; the one I'm thinking of was a rousing and boisterous song. Hers is lovely and gentle. But scan does go with hands, and they're both from the same hymn writing and singing tradition... which explains of the similarities.
xx, C
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Posted by lafko06 (from Brimfield, MA) on August 17, 2007 at 12:01 PM:
Wow, your whole article made me feel like I was sitting in your garden and enjoying the clean air and nature. Your sentiments were like poetry, thanks for sharing with us.
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Posted by dave (from Jacksonville, TX) on August 17, 2007 at 12:39 PM:
Ahh, the hymn Dea referenced in the article was "Is not this the land of Beulah?"
Here's a sample of the hymn:
[HYPERLINK@www.abigailmiller.com]
By Abigail Miller: [HYPERLINK@abigailmiller.com]
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Posted by senlarrs (from Harrisburg, PA) on August 17, 2007 at 1:09 PM:
Thanks, Dave!!!
Larry
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Posted by roybird (from Santa Fe, NM) on August 17, 2007 at 2:22 PM:
Beautiful pictures as well as words!
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on August 17, 2007 at 3:35 PM:
Lovely way to start the day! Good job, Dea!
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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on August 17, 2007 at 3:44 PM:
Truly uplifting. Thank you for reminding us all once again....gardeners are simply jr. partners with Our Heavenly Father. At this time I am listening to an album by Israel Kamak the official Hawaiian songster. Behind me is my 10 month great grand daughter dancing and singing, to my left out the window is a Luna moth, in front of me is the bird bath and feeder with a poppa cardinal feeding his twins and teaching them to drink from the fountain, a black capped vitreo is in the feeder, a hummingbird is in the petunia, and a yellow swallowtail just lit on the ginger bloom. Thank you Dea.
This message was edited Aug 17, 2007 2:56 PM
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Posted by vic (from Rutherfordton, NC) on August 17, 2007 at 4:10 PM:
Beautiful Dea...
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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on August 17, 2007 at 4:31 PM:
Thanks all and thank you dave for the link :)
Truth be told, I did in fact have a "rotten" day at the office, so I'm off to go be in the garden - thanks again for the encouragement fellow gardeners !
Dea
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Posted by gardenwife (from Newark, OH) on August 17, 2007 at 5:15 PM:
We live on a hill which, were there no trees, overlooks the courthouse square in our town. There are several churches downtown and their bells bring wonderful melodies up to me when I'm working in my yard. I love to sing along with them. They're also handy for letting me know what time it is, for they chime on the hour during most folks' waking hours, too. :)
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Posted by Gabrielle (from Washington, IL) on August 21, 2007 at 11:53 AM:
Music is as much a passion in my life as gardening, so to me they go hand in hand. I can't imagine gardening without a song in my head or even singing softly to myself. The song that is usually running through my mind is "The Garden Song" by Dave Mallet as sung by the late Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy. When I fixed the interior of the garage up earlier this year, I painted quotes from the song along the top of the walls. It really has deep meaning to me.
Smiles,
Gabrielle
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on August 21, 2007 at 12:31 PM:
"Inch by inch and row by row"? I know a lot of people who like that song very much.
xx, Carrie
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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on August 21, 2007 at 12:46 PM:
Have been on google looking for this song since reading your post, Gab. Music is second only to eating to me and oft times it is the reverse. Can you guide me to the lyrics and/or a download of the song.
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Posted by debnes_dfw_tx (from Fort Worth, TX) on August 21, 2007 at 12:57 PM:
Lou, I have a version of this song by Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter Paul & Mary) I actually made a whole CD of Garden Songs if you're interested.
Deb
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Posted by Gabrielle (from Washington, IL) on August 21, 2007 at 1:18 PM:
The recording I have it on is Makem & Clancy Collection. This is the lyrics from their version; I have seen variations in them elsewhere.
THE GARDEN SONG
David Mallet
Chorus:
Inch by inch and row by row
Going to make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground.
Inch by inch and row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from the low
Till the rain comes tumbling down.
--
Pulling weeds and picking stones
Man is made of dreams and bones
Feel the need to grow my own
‘Cause the time is close at hand.
Grain for grain, sun and rain
Find my way in nature’s chain
Tune my body and my brain
To the music of the land.
Repeat chorus
Plant two rows straight and long
Temper them with prayer and song
Mother Earth will make you strong
If you give her love and care.
An old crow watching hungrily
From his perch in yonder tree
But in my garden I’m as free
As that feathered thief up there.
Repeat chorus
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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on August 21, 2007 at 1:24 PM:
Thank you Gab, I know that took you sometime to type.
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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on August 21, 2007 at 1:27 PM:
Yes, thank you !
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Posted by Gabrielle (from Washington, IL) on August 21, 2007 at 1:43 PM:
You are very welcome. If anyone plays guitar, I have the chords, too.
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on August 21, 2007 at 3:09 PM:
Such a lovely song....and great instructions for family as well. Thanks for posting that Gabrielle.
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