#a garden by the pond

[theskyehealers]

Helena found a rare moment, all to herself. With the arrival of Alynne and Jezyk, the birth of Ula along the way, and returning to Hillside, she had welcomed Arendt to stay on longer, with his mysterious companion Maris, her younger girls, and returning to the responsibilities of caring for the people, she had barely a breath to herself. Thankfully Ulrich had proven a worthy partner, where he had also begun to take on some of the queries of the people. As the sun had begun its descent, and the summer winds breezed through, she took her collecting basket with her, and went out to the Old Gardens. The original plot of land, a slightly neglected and overgrown garden with a more than vibrant pond, remained almost the same. She remembered exactly why she had chosen this spot. it was serene with only the sounds of the chirping birds returning home from their day's journey. Seating herself atop a fallen log, in the overgrown grass, she looked out at the pond, and thought of her sisters. Lorna had been the first, and they had found each other just by sheer luck. She was named Pink Dust then and Pink had never failed in becoming the exact woman she was meant to be, fearless and forward. Juliette had found her way far from the forests of Thrakir, wounded in more ways than one, limping, but defiant, and unyielding in her loyalty. Exene had also found her way from Thrakir, a girl then displaying abilities like no other, a healer still, taught to show shame for her telekinesis, until tragedy struck, and life began anew. Helena squeezed her hands around a few of the flowers she had plucked. Absent hands remembered an old skill, weaving together wreaths and flower crowns. When she had run, as fast as her legs could have carried her, she hid her healing abilities, and learned to weave flower crowns and wreaths, earning the trust of other vendors, and eventually a bowl of stew. And then another, until the Potter family had aided her. Helena sighed heavily at the fading memory. She had bonded with their youngest daughter, and had secretly begun to teach her the healing arts. Collecting plants here and there and showing her how to dry and wrap them for later use. The Potters thought less of her, shunning her when they caught little Aurelia mimicking Helena, trying to 'cure' one of her porcelain dolls with the healing herbs Helena had helped her collect. Aurelia and Helena were forbidden to see one another after, and eventually Helena found herself at the garden by the pond, and they continued to write, in secret. They saw each other infrequently, until the last missive was received, from Pa Potter himself. He explained his daughter had gone mad, all because of her. She had become fanatical with the herbs Helena had taught her, berating the family that she was not like them, and had run away. The Potters vehemently told her to keep clear of their family, and Helena obliged, never reaching out again. She still listened to the winds, hoping she could learn of her whereabouts, hoping she was thriving, somewhere far, somewhere safe.

Stabbing her collecting stick in the dry earth, she found a few rare tubers, and cleaned them off with her hands, looking them over, and whispered. "Trinity." Trinity had been a discovery of Pink's, the two girls had found each other through the skin trade. She shared a similar history with Pink, their families both renowned and storied and having abandoned their natural talents for something completely different. Pink had tried to spare Trinity, even under the scaled thumb of Jormun. Trinity survived that life, and when all was said and done, she had come to Hillside, to recuperate. She displayed mystical abilities much like Exene and Pink's, but stronger, under the finest control she had ever seen, but worried for her nonetheless. Life had parted them all, scattering them with the winds. It was the winds that would carry back whispers of the toe-headed psychokinetic. That she had been bested, and was one with the stars again. Helena never forgot either of her fallen sisters, and how much guilt she felt for failing them, for not being able to protect them. Rising to her feet, she pulled the hood of her cloak back over her head, picked up her half-empty collecting basket and returned home. "In the stars...I hope you are safe my sisters..." Helena whispered. Not knowing that the stars themselves had set a new path for these wayward witches.

[vintagehomecollection]

The existing pool. Water can make an attractive transition between garden and countryside. Here the detailing of the pond is natural, with boulders used to make an informal surround.

The Garden Book, 1984

[happyheidi]

𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝖼𝖺𝗍 𝖻𝗒 𝗃𝖾𝖿𝖿𝗋𝖾𝗒𝗐 ♡

[rosechata]

clivenichols

[petitworld]

Zilker Park Botanical Garden, Texas, USA

[uroko]

Kaisan-do Garden 開山堂

[blooming-lenses]

pink water lily

2024/06/22

[teacups-and-memories]

[vangoghcore]

by lundolens

[celestialphotography]

Wanted to take a pretty watercolor-ish photo of the koi swimming by the water lilies, but I think the photo below is the best picture I took all day.

Chanticleer Garden, Wayne, Pennsylvania

[the-crow-in-the-blooming-tree]

[vintagehomecollection]

Garden lighting can transform almost any design and extends the length of time one can sit outside. From indoors the results are equally important but remember that simplicity is the key to success.

Creative Gardens, 1986

[happyheidi]

𝗑, 𝗑, 𝗑, 𝗑

[lovehina019]

[blooming-lenses]

forbidden bath

2024/05/18

[huariqueje]

Water Lilies at Pamplemousses Gardens - Robert Malherbe, 2020.

Australian, b. 1965 -

Acrylic on linen , 60 x 50 cm.