Amid the trials
Some of our azaleas as photographed on Easter morning, April 2012
“How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence.” — Benjamin Disraeli
We’ve now owned our York home nearly ten years, longer than we have ever owned any property. Among the many features of the home I’ve treasured, the azalea garden in our back yard is a favorite. Countless times that little triangle of ground has brought me joy, consolation, or gratitude for its beauty.
Year in and year out, through good times and bad, it’s been there for us to plant, transplant, weed, prune, clean up, photograph, stroll around and generally enjoy. Pasha is buried in the corner by the fence, surrounded by evergreen shrubs and flowers.
This photo was taken from our deck, but our bedroom windows also have a nice view of the garden. There are camellias, dogwoods, rhododendron, peonies and other plants, but it’s unquestionably the azaleas that dominate in the spring and fall. Their steadfast presence decorates our lives and feeds our spirits, and I’m so happy we have not had to move away and leave them.
What features of your own home or garden do you most enjoy?
One year ago today:
This post was first published seven years ago today. The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: azaleas, beauty, color, flowering shrubs, flowers, gardens, homes, nature, pink, seasons, springtime
Defeat Despair 
Good morning, Julia! My favorite home parts are the large deck, and my summer “sleeping porch.”
In winter, when neither are available, I like my breakfast nook and my bedroom.
What are your favorite parts of your new home?
Hmmm, that’s a tough one. I guess it depends partly on the weather. On pretty days I love to be outside or walking, but on gloomy days, or in winter, I love being by one of the fireplaces (I have one “real” gas fireplace — if a gas fireplace can be called “real”) and several fake electric ones that produce cozy heat.
This is gorgeous, Julia! Our house is 20 years old and the azaleas planted by the builder are still going strong. I wish we had a color other than white, but I don’t want to start over and risk losing them entirely!
Thank you, Susan. Regarding the azaleas, you might try adding in some smaller ones amongst the existing white ones. You may need to cut the established plants back to create room, but I finally learned that cutting back my azaleas (which I was once kind of afraid to do) just seems to make them bloom more. Thanks for being here, it’s always a joy to hear from you!
Julia, Wonderful!
Beauty always keeps the things of life in proper perspective. Beyond the well born trial is always the earned greater good.
-Alan
Thank you, Alan! I’m so far behind on comments now that I’m starting with the most recent first, which happens to be yours. It’s always a joy to hear from you. Hope you are enjoying a lovely springtime in “the quiet corner.”
I am, though still a bit raw. Warmer days ahead. Hope you spring is as you would have it.
-Alan
Julia, that play on the word FAITH, was in my book “A View From The Quiet Corner.”
-Alan