We can all do with seeing a few flowers in bloom here in Toronto after our last few weeks of snowy weather and cold. I noticed that the garden show called “Canada Blooms” which is now in its seventeenth year is presently on. All the images in this collage were from last year’s Canada Blooms.
At that time, I hadn’t started to use my photos in the way I’m doing now. However, I was so uplifted in body, mind, and spirit, by being there that I wanted to capture lots of those special moments on my digital camera. Apparently, there is no other garden show as large as this one in Canada. It covers many different areas of gardening: (i) Flowers which come from the magnificent floral presentations of the Toronto Flower Show and innovative displays from well known professional florists and growers
(ii) Education, featuring the best known garden and landscape experts from across Canada
(iii) Marketplace showcasing the latest and greatest garden products and services
(iv) Feature Gardens created by Ontario’s premier landscape designers
(v) Special Sponsor Features
I read that the theme of this year’s show is “The Magic of Spring.” It runs until March 24th. That means that there are still a few days left to get to this year’s show and experience that magic. Spring is truly a magical time of year. Who doesn’t like to see the first little shoots appear in the ground? While we’re not there yet here in Toronto, we are eagerly awaiting that day. In fact, on my calendar today, it shows under March 20th, First Day of Spring.
As life goes by, especially for those in our later years of life, we may be slowing down, but we really don’t want to miss out on the important details of life. Those details may be different for each person. As I was doing this collage and thinking of the theme for this year’s show, I was reminded of a poem that I read that was was written by an eighty-five year old woman. About Spring, she said: If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I was having a game of table-tennis with a friend yesterday who lost her father four months ago. He was in his nineties. She celebrated her Birthday last Friday and was out with her sons and their spouses for a birthday celebration at a restaurant the same evening. Coincidentally, the day of her birthday, was the ninth anniversary of her mother’s death, and she visited her grave that morning as she usually does every anniversary of her mother’s death. She told me that in her country and culture, mourning for a deceased loved one is for one year.
I found myself telling her that this kind of tradition and thinking had to be done away with because she too would be dying sooner rather than later and that it was good for her to celebrate with her sons now. She said this is what her sons told her and they all had an enjoyable time enjoying her special day. I didn’t mention the poem to my friend but I was glad that she wouldn’t have to regret missing out on celebrating her birthday because of a tradition that was carried on in another time and place.
I have put the poem in its entirety here since it may be an interesting read. It is called “If I had my life to live over again” and is attributed to Nadine Stair. Enjoy every little sprout that comes out of the ground this Spring and walk barefoot early if you like. Hope you like the collage too.
If I had my life to live over, I’d dare to make more mistakes
next time. I’d relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier
than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and
swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I’m one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely,
hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if
I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d
try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another,
instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I’ve been
one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer,
a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do
it again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier
in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go
to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.