Treasures come in a mighty variety of forms which makes the
old proverb ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ more true than just a
platitude. On any given day, anyone’s definition of treasure can change any
number of times, for example: the delphinium I bought at lunch today is a
sweet, chubby, beautiful blue plant which I can enjoy for years to come, but
also the old wire garden gate I liberated from an abandoned backyard is an
absolute treasure. It reminds me of the wonderful yard of Mr. Clem Watkins in
Alturas, California. But that’s another story. This gate is in my yard and
getting freshened up with a new coat of green spray paint before being hung to
guard a new garden. I have a little brass sign, a gift from Dustin and Samantha
years ago, that says “Mom’s Garden” to hang on the gate so that no one will
question who’s in charge of the treasured space within the picket fence. 
Inside
the garden is a pink crepe poppy next to a pink iris which was a gift from a
treasured auntie, and near those are the old Tonka trucks I found at a yard
sale. Once the sandbox is finished, I think those beat up, rusty old trucks
will be pretty darned important to a set of small Sanderses. 
So considering treasures then, is it better to have a few
selected precious things or many? Again, depends on the day and the person, but
my personal opinion is that there is just so much to appreciate and adore that
I want to squeeze them all in at once and slather love around everywhere. I
want to have a wealth of good weather and a cache of happy grandchildren. I
want to have prized dirt in my garden and jewels of vegetables and I really
want and need to have a fortune in flowers and family.
I’m just saying the same things that any other
gardener/grammy/mama would wish for and cherish because the greatest treasure
of all is to teach the young ones around us an appreciation for Mother Earth.
Satisfaction runs deeply in my soul when I hear my children discuss the huge
garden to be planted at Kyle and Sarah’s, and to answer questions of fledgling
gardeners who are just now getting a plot of land and see the possibilities for
the very first time.
And then there’s Sara, our beautiful and talented Freckled
FarmGirl who has embraced the Mother with an instinctive knowledge of
protection and appreciation. Sara has elevated her love of the dirt to become a Master
Gardener, and continues to grow through teaching her skills to novices. She is
pursuing a full life of knowing her place in the sun and with the soil, blessed
by water and sown with seeds to hold close the Mother and the greatest gift.
She is truly a Gaia Goddess (and will cringe at that description, I’m sure.) She
knows her place of sanctuary from which she draws her greatest strength, and in
Sara and her love of Earth, I see a treasure beyond description.
Happy Bearthday to my treasured daughter, wished for you
from all the love of your Mothers~
