THE JOY OF A GARDEN 3 



for I grow them to eat ; but life is more than meat, 

 and it is not all of gardening to grow things to eat. 

 One learns to look at the plants as they grow. In 

 time, one learns to see what mean beauty of leaf 

 and blossom, grace of form and growth, and the 

 marvel of color in growing things. Have you ever 

 really looked clear into the heart of a big squash 

 blossom? I once found there a bumble-bee trying 

 to balance his clumsy body, while he reached for 

 the sweets so far from him below. I held my face 

 close and the broad sheltering squash leaves shut 

 out the sunlight, leaving a mellow golden twilight 

 in the big bell-like blossom. 



Do you know how fragrant a cucumber blossom 

 is? So fragrant, it fills its place in the garden 

 full of perfume, when the dew forms at night. 

 The big clumsy martynia grows scores of exquisite 

 orchid-like blooms. The okra blossom has colors 

 as rich and varied as those of the choicest gladioli. 

 Garden peas are as pretty as sweet peas. Blossom 

 and fruit ; bird song and sunlight and cool shade ; 

 the fresh odor of the newly turned soil; the con- 

 tinual surprises and the wonder of growth these 

 are some of the riches of a real gardener. 



Will you adventure with me? Will you set out 

 to be a real gardener? Then let us talk together 

 about how to work a garden in this real way, 

 successfully. The piece of ground will be secured 

 somehow or other. It does not matter how, so 

 you have it. You will get it broken up, prepared 



