Blog of Cris Koonce
"When one door closes another opens. But we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we fail to see the one that has opened for us."
- Alexander Graham Bell
"Happiness to a dog is what lies on the other side of a door."
- Charlton Ogburn
"Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door."
- Emily Dickinson
The door on the left belongs to the chapel of Clark Gardens Botanical Park. Clark Gardens is a beautiful and diverse 35 acre park located just outside the east edge of Mineral Wells, Texas.
The door on the right belongs to the 5,200 square foot mansion of Chandor Gardens. Chandor Gardens is a 3.5 acre lush and enchanting garden located in Weatherford, Texas.
Both gardens express their living beauty made possible by two deeply heart-felt relationships. Chandor Gardens is the result of the vision and dedication of Douglas and Ina Chandor. Clark Gardens is the creative masterpiece of Max and Billie Clark. Though the gardens are different from one another in style, there is one very strong common thread. The couples who built them did so out of love and commitment. Their passion for creating a living, thriving environment to share, has gone well beyond planting a seed and watching it grow. Their living legacy and those who work diligently to carry their torch, are an inspiration.
[I just have to share. When I went to my papa's house to visit after posting the "A Rose - My Heart" entry, I got a special surprise. On his wall Dad had artfully printed and framed that post. Thank you, Papa!]
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
- William Shakespeare
"The sweetest flower that blows, I give you as we part. For you it is a rose. For me it is my heart."
- Frederick Peterson
The rose is attached to many special moments in my life. I imagine that is the case for many. Like the time when I was in high school returning home from senior trip. Dad had taken my car to the parking lot in town where my classmates and I would arrive. When I opened the car door, there were 3 pink roses neatly waiting for me.
Or like the time I was planting a few miniature roses in a small flower bed at the front of our house. I had mail ordered them; they arrived with bare roots and I had them waiting in a bucket with water as I dug holes to put them in. Our neighbors' sweet Golden Retriever, Snickers, was hanging-out at our house as he often did. As I finished planting the first rose, I heard a soft crunch, crunch, crunch behind me. Yes, there was Snickers enjoying a chew stick he had found in my bucket - aka one of the roses. He wasn't too sure why I took his stick from him and put it in the dirt. I was hopeful, but it didn't grow. Every time I looked at the shorter and different replacement rose bush, I thought of Snickers and smiled.
Or like the time my parents were making funeral arrangements for my brother, Lars. The question they were asked was, "What kind of flowers should be in the casket spray?" Dad looked at Mom and asked, "Red roses?" Mom nodded, yes. Mom became noticeably more emotional at that moment. I asked her if she wanted to step outside. When we did, she said, "The red rose is the symbol of God and Love." While I hadn't heard it said that way before, nor since, what really mattered was how much it meant to Mom. When she passed, there were red roses.
So as we part, by coming to the end of this note, I give to you this picture of a rose. Sorry it's sweet fragrance can't be shared too, but at least you don't have to put it in water, nor will it wilt. It's picture was taken at sunrise at Clark Gardens. It's hard to beat the glow of dawn and dusk.
- Anonymous
- Francois Mauriac
"Every path has its puddle."
- Old saying
"Let no one be deluded that a knowledge of the path can substitute for putting one foot in front of the other."
- Mary Caroline Richards
"Any path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you."
- Carlos Castaneda
Take care,
-Cris
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- CrisKoonce: Wow. We got 4.5 inches of rain yesterday. No need to water the garden this morning.
- CrisKoonce: Making my 1st scratch carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Hope it is edible. I'll let Bill have the first piece. :)
- CrisKoonce: Evenings don't get much better than tonight. Calm cool night. Candle light dinner on the deck. Nice fire in the chiminea and good company.
- CrisKoonce: This is the first time our zucchini plant has seen rain. The rain must have scared it, 'cause it fell over.
- CrisKoonce: The power is out. Five electric trucks have gone by so far. My oh my.
