I Need a Garden Poem

[GardenGeisha]

I need a poem that mentions both gardens/gardening and God and is spiritually uplifting for a garden themed church ladies' conference. Can anyone recommend a pretty poem of this type? Also, can you think of any fun garden-themed ice breaker type activities? Thanks for your help!

 

[digitS']

Something of a classic, GardenGeisha, by Dorothy Frances Gurney: God's Garden

The Lord God planted a garden
In the first white days of the world,
And He set there an angel warden
In a garment of light enfurled.


So near to the peace of Heaven,
That the hawk might nest with the wren,
For there in the cool of the even
God walked with the first of men.


And I dream that these garden-closes
With their shade and their sun-flecked sod
And their lilies and bowers of roses,
Were laid by the hand of God.


The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,--
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.


For He broke it for us in a garden
Under the olive-trees
Where the angel of strength was the warden
And the soul of the world found ease.


Steve

 

[digitS']

The Ten Commandments of Gardening:

Thou shalt be patient till it's thyme to garden
Thou shalt be outstanding in thy field
Thou shalt lovingly care for the Earth
Thou shalt weed thy garden diligently
Thou shalt take time to smell the flowers
Thou shalt keep a fresh from the garden attitude
Thou shalt give freely of the bounty of thy harvest
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors soil
Thou shalt listen to your Garden Angels
Thou shalt bloom where you are planted and
grow strong under God's tender care.

 

[Carol Dee]

Games.
A word scramble or bingo with garden theme words. Or walk around in a gardening apron. Then hide it and ask what was in the apron. Have it filled with hand tools, seeds, twine, etc...
Buy some cheap jersey gloves and let them decorate them with felt, buttons, beads, lace, rick-rack, etc... (hot glue or fabric glue should work.)

 

[Ridgerunner]

Have various fresh flowers or potted plants as your centerpieces or just in the reception/meeting area. Divide them into teams and see which team can identify the most flowers or plants. Make some of the potted plants herbs that the winners can take home.

 

[so lucky]

Lots of great ideas. Steve, probably the hardest Garden Commandment for me to keep is not coveting my neighbor's soil.
And we all have heard/seen the 4th verse of that poem, but I hadn't seen the whole thing, I guess. Beautiful.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

*cough*

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I'm a (insert religious group here),
And so are you...

?...

Um... let me work on that one for a little while.

 

[digitS']

Off topic but I like the idea of a "garden-close."

It is a part of the meaning of "garden" - a fenced or walled space. "4. (klōs) An enclosed place, especially land surrounding or beside a cathedral or other building."

We guard the garden, even if it is just from traffic . . . and yet not one of my gardens is even fenced .

Steve

 

[GardenGeisha]

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions, everyone! And, Steve, I am thrilled to have the other verses for 'One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth!" I had never heard them before. I think that one is just perfect, and I'll use the other poems and activity ideas, too! Thank you soooo much!

 

[hoodat]

While you have the garden minded ladies all together you might explore the possibility a plant swap a bit later in the year.