"Mommy, can we do something special together?" she whined. "It’s boring inside." No one else was up yet, and she was still in her jammies. "You can help me pick flowers," I offered. "OK." So she went and got the waiting bucket and some scissors and began joyfully cutting.
"Can I cut these?" "Yes." "And can I cut these pretty ones?" "Sure!" "Oh! These! I want to pick these!" "Go ahead." What joy she had picking whatever she wanted! I realized then what we had been missing all those years, not having a cutting garden. When flowers are around the house, there are often not enough blooms to cut many, if the garden is to remain looking nice. I often had to limit the bouquets the girls collected. But with a cutting garden, I could say yes, yes, yes, something my children RARELY hear from me! It reminded me of a poem, which I will post next, about how much our children love to hear yes.
As we picked, we enjoyed our busy garden visitors together, especially the butterflies! "Butterflies are so beautiful," she whispered, as she watched one on a zinnia near her. "Mommy, when is butterfly catching season?" she asked wistfully, as two flew away. "Oh, take a picture of them both!" she cried, when they both came back and landed near each other. "Hey, butterflies collect pollen, too, not just bees," she discerned, as she watched the butterfly seemingly "eat" the pollen, and noticed the collection of pollen on its body.
So, even though I had tripped on a stick in the garden and fallen flat on the ground, hitting the bucket with my head and receiving its contents all over my face and shirt (how refreshing!), it was nonetheless a truly beautiful and productive morning: flowers collected, nature observed, bond strengthened with daughter, and the wonder of Creation further embedded in a little heart.