Moses

Moses parted the Red Sea and after the Israelites had crossed, he stretched out his hand and the waters flowed back, as though the sea had never been parted.

The Israelites stood on the shore before vacant planes of sand and sky.  Behind them were rushing waters.  They pressed forward through the hot sun to the land of Abraham.

But before they reached the promised land, every person who had crossed the Red Sea died, and for their decendants, it was as if they had never lived anywhere but the desert.

The parting of the Red Sea took place in about 1300 BC.  And 3000 years later, and half the world away, I struggle to remember how life used to be, how I used to feel, even one year ago.  Photographs recall people, places and plants, but the experiences are gone.  As life rolls on, no one can go back to the way it used to be.

Much happened in the garden in 2011. 

We adopted our feisty dog Shelly last winter.  We heightened and reinforced the fence to keep her from escaping the back garden.

The landscaper installed a simple black fence at the entrance to Shelly's garden. This thin metal barrier discourages dogs from exiting and strangers from entering.  Visitors wonder what lies beyond the gate.  

After 20 years at the entrance of the back garden, this trio of clay pots was moved to the strip of soil beside the driveway.

Papas Garden exploded in wildflowers this spring.

And in Shelly's garden, the azaleas were lovely.

I experimented with a friendly deer fence, 6 pots of autumn ferns strategically placed to hide the hostas.  Deer avoid the narrow spaces between the pots and they cannot see well over the dense evergreen foliage.

I bought 11 new hostas to fill in the bald spots beneath the buckeye tree.  This one is named "Final Summation."  It is a baby now, but will be 6 feet wide at maturity.

I decorated the porch for the holidays this year.  The witch in the pot of Japanese painted fern is a gift from my sister Elizabeth.  The Hosta 'Sum and Substance' is beside the pumpkin on the left and Tradescantia 'Purple Profusion' is in the basket on the far right.

As 2011 draws to a close, we are reminded that time only flows forward.  We can never go back.

Happy New Year to you. May your dreams come true in 2012.