On the Road Again!

I am successfully posting exactly one day short of a month! Can you believe it? I will be posting again by the end of the week, too. I thought I would start with a short blip of a trip I am recently returning from. I had the pleasure of accompanying my two bosses on a trip to the West coast. A true pleasure! We traveled to experience the networking of independent garden centers across the country and share ideas and learn from some of the experts! I would be remiss not to mention that even the experts harvest ideas and concepts from those of us who have a little ways to grow. Aside from the networking, excellent food and exhausting workshops, we took an extra 2 days and toured the great city and surrounding area of Portland, Oregon. What breathtaking views and exhillarating designs, both man and God inspired!

I spent the afternoon in the internationally renowned Japanese Gardens in Portland with no regret. The gardens are well balanced, fluid and yet anchored, uninhibited, meaningful, sensory, meditative....I could go on. Some spaces embraced anarchy as well as balance, some were strategic, others were simply calming and almost reclusive. I met some wonderful people, both local and travelers. A wonderful couple on holiday from Switzerland who had started their tour of the US in NY City and worked their way across to Portland and were headed to Seattle. One of the most desired stops was the Japanese Gardens. They were truly impressed with the wonders of this space. The Koi pond was bridging the gap between generations as young and old alike took moments to capture some of the magic found in the colorful fish. Another fellow is a current local and works in health research. We had a brilliant chat in the shade of some of the mature Japanese Disectum Maples along a path and discussed God, gardens and the path life takes us on as well as where we currently saw ourselves. It was as if the tranquility of the gardens drew out conversations in several people. Patrick, our health researcher, is a cloaked writer who is looking for his zeal again. A wonderful sense of humor, great attention to detail, and a grateful observer of this space.

Next, I traveled to the International Rose Test Garden and was privy to watching as the throngs of people slowed their paces to admire the raw beauty of the gardens, untouched by chemicals and left to defend themselves and thus putting to bed that roses are a plant only the brave of heart would attempt to grow! The woman you will see was from Ireland and also here on holiday.

Lastly, the mountains that seem, in the distance, to be large but not daunting were larger than life. Awesome in design and proportion. Speechless at their beauty and grandeur, varied terrains and climates, I can do no justice in describing them. Breathtaking waterfalls galore, spacious views and crystal waters just brimming with life.

I hope that you find some joy in this rhetoric and if fate would lead you to this Western Coast of the United States, grab it and GO!