by Mereshia De Nobrega

Created on: February 22, 2009   Last Updated: March 31, 2009

Can you see me? I am Queen of the desert, walking over hills of
sand, covered from head to toe, hiding from the sun, holding
onto my camel. Sand is blowing, there's not a tree in
sight, or water, let alone any flowers.
Moving from Africa to the desert both have the same problems,
hot and dry. But on both sides of the world I had to have my
garden. I have planned my garden to suit my mood, my personality

and I had to decorate it with creativity.
Digging in the earth, getting it ready for a blend of colors and
the velvety touch of roses, was hard work, but it paid off. I
think some of the rocks and stones I dug out could have being
ancient pieces. I should have called in the archeologist.
Yes, the hard work is over. Now just one hour a day for touch-
ups: snip, clip, water,a little love and attention and my garden
is full of magic. During Three months of hard work, my tired
bones found muscles I never knew I had before. Fingers all cut, drains blocked from the sand, But it all was worth it. As I wake
to a whiff of lavender.
Still in my nightgown and slippers, I open the patio doors to my
garden. With a smile and greeting to Snow White and seven
dwarfs standing around my fish tank. Yes, I have a small fish
tank in my garden, with three goldfish. I cross the green grass,
still wet with morning dew that splashes on my ankles. The drops
at first are cold but that doesn't stop me from bending to touch
Snow white and the dwarfs, wiping some drops of water off them.
My garden is all green grass in the middle and around the grass
I have my bed of flowers. Between the flowers and grass I have
old Victorian figurines, slightly chipped, but I could not bring
myself to throw them away so I found them a place in my garden,
they look happy and content. I planted some mint and it
took over my garden so I replanted it in pots on my kitchen
window sill, and we use it every day for tea, salads and meat.
Because sunflower is so easy to grow and so beautiful, we just
had to throw out some seeds.
Walking around my small, well-planned garden, stopping at every
flower I ask each one. How was your night? Oh my
sunflowers, heads still down, I ask, Why so gloomy? Don't
worry, the sun will move to this side soon. Then you can wake up
and rise. My roses have fallen to the ground. I pick them up and
bring the branch close to my nose. I inhale the delicate
fragrance, and assure the rose bush that its blossoms will go in
my bath water. To me the rose bush looks pleased with the
second chance of pleasing me.At the end of the day, nothing is
finer than to sit outside with a glass of red wine, overlooking my exotic and rich display of flowers and
rose bushes, with a touch of light here and there, and waiting
on the Easter wind, the scent of lavender and a whiff of mint,
under the sky a magic of white stippled on baby blue. My garden
has an elegant charm in its variety of colors and
textures. But the most important part is planning
and shaping my garden into a meaningful, expriecence

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