Children

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Grandfather’s Garden

I could hear the elusive song of the warbler in the garden. It seemed to call out to me, “Come and visit.”
I bounced down the steps and ran along the trellis path. I could smell the strong scent of honeysuckle being carried throughout the yard by the gentle breeze that was blowing.
Some small birds had made a nest on the top of the trellis and the tiny brown fledglings were peeking out above the compact nest.
‘Chirp, chirp, chirp,’ they called waiting for their mother to bring food.
I stopped at the edge of the velvety path and gazed at the vibrant garden. I could scarcely take in the beauty of this place.

No matter where I looked there was an abundance of lively flowers, fluttering birds, brightly painted garden benches and a variety of shiny green shrubs and trees. It seemed as if every color of an artist’s pallet was displayed in this peaceful garden.
There was a fat red breasted robin bathing in the cement bird bath. I could see him splashing and as the water bounced off his wings in the dazzling sunlight. He merrily drenched himself and everything around him in the cold spring water.
My eyes settled on one tiny corner where a small plant was beginning to spread its lime green leaves throughout this diminutive space. Miniature chalky white flowers began to burst into bud. These delicate soft plants were overshadowed by an abundance of emerald green shrubs covered with crimson red flowers.
I slowed my pace as I languished in the smell of the strongly scented jasmine and the pungent odour of wild ginger.
At the edge of the vegetable garden was an old wooden bench. It had been painted in muted colors of deep gold and terra cotta. It seemed to beckon me to sit a while and view this paradise from a different angle. My eyes roved back and forth absorbing the lovely sights. I closed my eyes and felt the heat of the sun bathing me in its warmth and glowing light.
The sound of the trickling water pouring out of the pond fountain begs me to move to the waters edge. The pond was filled with koi and water lilies. I noticed the koi swimming towards the edge of the pond where I stood. I could see their tails wiggling quickly as they were propelled along.
Their heads poked up out of the water and their mouths forms an ‘oh’ much like that of an opera singer. I wondered if they were the opera singers in the pond where they lived.
A croaking frog startled me as it jumped from the lily pad into the water. His fat belly bulged even more as he entered the pond. He sent huge ripples of water all across the water as he made his steady decent to the bottom. I loved the sounds coming from the small waterfall. The gurgling water tumbles over each rock and crevice reaching it’s destination below as the sun sparkled on the dancing waters.
This was my favourite place to be, this was my Grandfather’s Garden.

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