Visualization and the MRI

Monday, May 18, 2009.

I had a wonderful experience today, and I want to share it with my gardening friends and with all who follow this blog.

Normally you don't hear the words "wonderful experience" associated with the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan procedure.

But let me tell you my story. I practice visualization to attract positive results in my life. I visualize a positive result before I undertake most any task.

Well today I had to have an MRI because I am experiencing sever pain in my left leg. I may have a pinched nerve in my back.

I've had MRI's before and I was not real excited about having this one. If you've never had the experience it goes something like this; You are laid down on a narrow cot and placed in a huge tube that is about an inch away from your face and asked to stay perfectly still. If that's not frightening enough the machine starts making these loud banging noises as it takes images of your body. This goes on (in my case) for about 40 minutes.

Anyway. That's an MRI. So today before I got to the clinic I made myself relax, Even though I overslept this morning, I drove the speed limit and listened to some of my favorite music on the drive there.

Once I was placed in the MRI machine, I closed my eyes and started visualizing walking through my gardens.

I talked and walked through the gardens stopping to train the climbing roses on the arbor.

Smelling the sweet scents of the petunias and Mexican plum tree. I stopped to pull stray grass shoots from the flower beds. I could feel my feet on each stepping stone.


It was amazing! I knew that the noise was there, but at times I could not hear it. I never felt enclosed. I only felt like I was walking outside in my gardens. I seriously almost fell asleep I was so peaceful.


When it was all over, I felt refreshed and relaxed. I've never experienced anything like it.


As soon as I got home, I went straight to my gardens to say thank you to the universe that I live in. Thank you for my peaceful place. I am blessed knowing that no matter where I am or what the circumstances, I have a safe place.


Thank You God.

MY EARTH KIND ROSE GARDEN

My new rose garden started with an idea and a sketch. I had the idea and my daughter did the sketch.

I wanted a rose garden planted with only Earth Kind roses. I found Chamblee Rose Nursery in Tyler, Texas to order my roses from. After many hours of researching all of the Earth Kind roses, I chose six that I thought would be suitable for my garden... I decided on Climbing Pinkie, Caldwell Pink, Spice, Ducher, Sea Foam and Marie Daly.

I placed my order in January and in February I began to to prepare the site that would be the home for my new babies.

First came the arbor.

Once it was in place I prepared the rose garden bed. I filled the garden bed with a mix of garden soil and compost. I tried to keep the outline of the bed as close to the original plan as possible.

When my rose bushes arrived in mid March, I was literally jumping up and down with excitement. I couldn't wait to inspect them to be sure that all was well with the shipment. To my relief, they were in perfect condition.

After a few days I started planting them. It took me 2 days to get them all planted, but it was very gratifying when I was done. Here are some of the early photos of my new rose garden.

My Earth Kind rose garden is in its infancy stage and I look forward to watching it grow. I have planted perennial seeds to fill in the spaces and I await the summer months to see how they grow up as well. I can' t tell you how pleased I am already with the progress of my new Earth Kind rose garden. I hope you will continue to follow their growth with me.

Until next time,

Keep Gardening!

Stormy Skies Over Texas

On Tuesday the 24th of March, My daughter and I thought we were going to get in a few sets of tennis when we went to the park. Instead we were greeted by threatening skies and wind gust so strong that we had a hard time just opening our car doors.
So instead of playing tennis we took these great pictures of the clouds that were rolling by overhead. Needless to say the storms were not far behind.

Springtime In Pam's Chesapeake Gardens

With Spring fast approaching,
I felt the need to share with you what has
been happening in my gardens.

After beginning the winter clean up I began seeing a few signs of Spring.

The first sign was the return of my Pandora's Box Daylilies. I have 3 of them in my Grass Garden.

My Carolina Jessamine began blooming shortly after that.














And then the Snap Dragons burst onto the scene. They began blooming around the 26th of February and I must say it looks like they are here to stay. They are vibrant and beautiful. I took lots of pictures and I hope they make you as happy as they do me.

These beauties are not the only early arrivals in my gardens.
Take a look at 3 of my Rose Bushes. Here is the Climbing Blaze's new growth.












And the Blue Girl Rose Bush is right in step. The two Knock Out Rose Bushes in the garden looked a little tired a few days ago, but look at what I found when I went out to my gardens this morning! This little blossom is really trying to get it on the act .


And now take a look at my Dusty Miller...
















They share a garden bed with Lantana and purple Salvia.
I know they can't wait for their beautiful companions to join them this spring. I know I can't!

There is much work to do to make my garden space the enchanted garden that I so lovingly refer to it from time to time.

My garden is a labor of love and the place where I find my peace always.

I hope that you will find joy and peace also as you visit Pam's Garden Space in the coming days.

Until next time,

HAPPY GARDENING !!!

MY TRIBUTE TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Born into slavery in Missouri, Carver later earned degrees from Iowa Agricultural College. The director of agricultural research at the Tuskegee Institute from 1896 until his death, Carver developed hundreds of applications for farm products important to the economy of the South, including the peanut, sweet potato, soybean, and pecan.

SkyWatch Friday - Dawn Of A New Day

These photos were taken in the early morning hours of December 18, 2008.

I was facing north in my backyard.

I love this time of day at my house. There is usually a beautiful sunrise and all is quiet and peaceful.

Watching the new day unfold in such a glorious display is always uplifting.

It gets me motivated to create. To somehow add my little bit to the universe.

Pam's Raised Winter Vegetable Garden

A few months ago I was inspired by a post that I read on a blog titled "Living with a Chronic Illness". It was an article about different ways to grow your own vegetables.

And how to plan gardens for small spaces. One was called a keyhole garden because once constructed it resembled a keyhole made with large stones. There was also a bag garden. Vegetables and seeds literally planted in huge bags. The people planting these gardens were women and young children in under developed countries. These gardens were their main source of food. The videos really touched me and I couldn't stop thinking about these very resourceful people.


I vowed to myself to plant my own vegetable garden and take some control over what I ate.



If these people could do it. I could do it!


I decided to plant a winter vegetable garden and use a raised Grow Bed.

I knew nothing about growing vegetables, so I read articles on the Internet. I bought a instruction book on growing vegetables. And last but not least, I asked my daddy.

His advice and encouragement was the final spark that I needed.


So armed with my new found knowledge, off I went to the neighborhood garden center... I bought cabbage and broccoli plants. I decided to plant seeds for my other plants. I chose green beans, peas, turnip greens and onions.


I had everything planted by mid October. After that the rest was easy. I just watered and watched my garden grow. And grow it did!


I'm really proud of my first vegetable garden. And I'm very happy with the yield.

I can't wait to plant my next crop. I'm thinking I might need to purchase or construct at least one more Raised Garden Bed.

Going the the whole process of planting my vegetable garden has been very rewarding for me.

I've eaten some of the brocolli and I must say it is delicious. I'll let you know how everything else turns out.



Here are pictures of my vegetable garden from the beginning until now.



Til next time,



Happy Gardening!