It's 92ºF today. Too hot to be in the garden. But I'm here anyway, scrubbing the birdbaths. The birds will be happy for some fresh, clean water.

I take a moment to let my eyes sink into the blue of the hydrangea flowers that border the house, grateful for the feeling of calm and peacefulness they inspire, however fleeting.

Flowers seem to speak directly to the heart, making them easy for us human clods to understand. We just have to pay attention, be quiet and listen. A good first step to getting ourselves back to the garden.