If I had to imagine what heaven looked like, a part of it would look like this photo. A beautiful day, a big tree, a bench and a violin soloist. I'm no judge of musical talent but there was an earnestness in this guy's playing that really touched me. I couldn't pick out the tunes he was playing but they sounded American -- like something you'd hear on the soundtrack of "American Experience" or any Ken Burns documentary. The weather was slightly warm but dry and breezy. I saw lots of robins and redwing blackbirds. I could not plan a better day.
This is The Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover, Massachusetts. It is one of the treasures of The Trustees of Reservations. The property includes an herb garden, an annual and perennial garden, a greenhouse and meadows, as well as a historic house and fruit orchards. All free to the public.
I feel so blessed to live in such close proximity to these kinds of places that the state preserves. It is an unending source of visual refreshment and inspiration. Look at these plantings! And it's not even peak season yet.
It's like being out in nature without the messy, scary, dangerous parts. Everything looks so "natural" when in fact thousands of man hours are consumed in maintaining a property this size. The hedges don't trim themselves nor do the weeds do their own pulling. But I do appreciate the picture the original landscape architects were trying to paint and I would gladly sit and be a part that picture, if only for a little while.
oh, yeah!
Posted by: sport | May 28, 2008 at 03:04 AM