Gardeners work in harmony with the seasons. Just walking through countryside, as I did in the snow yesterday, helps me feel in harmony with myself and the world.
This design made from colourful tiles is one of several at the Tucson Botanical Gardens that celebrate gardening.
The lines at the top of the design are from Thoughts in a Garden, by Yorkshireman, Andrew Marvell, published in the 17th Century:
How could such sweet and wholesome hours
Be reckon’d but with herbs and flowers!
Poetry lovers can read the full text on bartleby.com. I like Marvell’s rebuke in the same poem to those who carve their sweethearts’ names on trees:
Fond lovers, cruel as their flame,
Cut in these trees their mistress’ name;
Little, alas, they know or heed
How far these beauties hers exceed!
Fair trees! wheres’e’er your barks I wound,
No name shall but your own be found.
and these lines that nature lovers may not be able to explain, but can recognise:
Annihilating all that’s made
To a green thought in a green shade.
The Tucson Botanical Gardens are well worth a visit if you’re in the area: Reader’s Digest named them as the Best Secret Garden in America. I took this picture in their sunny butterfly garden.
Susan Rushton 
This is a lovely interpretation of harmony theme. Beautiful tiles with great illustrations.
I liked the illustrations too. I’m curious to know how a design like this is made – it looks hand crafted.
What beautiful tiles! Wonderful choice for the challenge.
Thank you.
I first read “Tuscan” instead of “Tucson” and wondered why the language was English. Ahh, it’s getting late and I didn’t sleep well last night, so that can be my excuse. Lovely shot, Susan.
janet
I can hardly believe I’ve been to Tucson myself – the plants were so different than the ones I’m used to seeing in England that it almost seems like a dream.
Such an inspiring set of tiles, and such a lovely post. I love your photographs!