Thursday, July 15, 2010

Happy Birthday To Me, And The Garden

I am this many years old today, and my garden is three. What I want for my birthday, in a somewhat particular order:

1) My memoir, Morning Glory: A Story of Family and Culture in the Garden, to be published by a decent press
2) An Audi A5 coupe prestige package with driver assist
3) A Flip video camera
4) For you to go preorder a copy of my newest poetry chapbook by September 3
5) 100 acres of midwest land, part woods, part pond / lake, part meadow or prairie. On said lot I'd like a modest, mid-century modern home, say 3500 square feet (geothermal, solar, wind powered), with a writers' studio out back of about 200 square feet. A small swimming pool would also be nice, with a 10,000 square foot walled garden.

I see no reason why on a birthday one should not wish for anything but material extravagances--birthdays are transient and momentary, dreams formed and wishes made, reminders that we are fleeting yet can endure beyond our beginning or end. In other words, we are gardens.

And now, let us celebrate with many colorful photos you may download and use as wrapping paper on gifts for me (this is also my annual visual checkup of the back yard)....

First, let's not forget mid April, then on to mid July we shall go:


















































































































19 comments:

Victoria Summerley said...

Happy birthday, Dr Vogt. May all your birthday wishes come true
!

Kyna said...

I like a man who can really celebrate his birthday. Instead of, 'Meh....it's just another day.' :)

Ginny said...

Happy Birthday! I am fulfilling one of your wishes by pre-ordering your chapbook. Consider it wrapped in one of your colorful garden photos. Seeing how a garden is transformed between early Spring and mid-Summer inspires awe, renews hope, and reminds me of why I love gardening so much.

Ellada said...

Happy birthday.
Hey, you didn't ask much for your birthday, you forgot a airplane and a castle. lol!!!

Sheila said...

Happy Birthday! May your birthday wishes all come true - sooner or later!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday, Benjamin & His Blog!!!
:)

Diana Studer said...

From our three year old garden to yours - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Amy said...

Happy birthday! Wow...what a difference in your garden. My garden is three and I've been blogging for a year, too. I move plants around so much that I'm not sure if any of the plants are in their original location! Your garden is beautiful!!

Unknown said...

Benjamin,
Happy Birthday! Your garden looks well established and older than you
are. Cheers!

Les said...

Happy birthday to ya. If you get the 100 acres, make sure you write a really nice thank you note.

Lynne said...

Happy Birthday Benjamin!
Hope you are as happy as your garden looks today.

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Gail said...

Happy Birthday Benjamin~Mine is tomorrow~I want my husband to help me cut down more bush honeysuckles. I hope you get all your wishes~gail

Layanee said...

You deserve it all even though you have made your garden look like 100 acres of meadow and gardens. Happy belated birthday.

Benjamin Vogt said...

Thank you all for stopping by and being nice to me. You know. I got a Flip camera, but not the other things (did visit the car dealership though). And thank you to those who have bought my poetry book! I'd go out to the garden today but the heat index is 110--I feel sorry for the special olypmics athletes who are in town this next week competing.

Christine B. said...

You'd have to be Bill Gates or Donald Trumps kid to really get all that for your BD;)

I need more imagination...for my next BD, I asked for someone to clean my car.

Christine in Alaska

Benjamin Vogt said...

Christine--If you can't ask for the moon and stars, you'll never even make it into orbit. I want to be in orbit. Without the use of drugs.

VW said...

Wow, nice early and midseason contrast! My garden only looks like your spring shot since it's still so young.
You suggested Louisiana iris for me - I don't think they're hardy in my zone 5, but maybe I'm wrong. I've often looked at the Louisianas since they have some true reds.

Benjamin Vogt said...

VW--Hey, I'm zone 5a, and we certainly can get down to -20 in the winter, so you are fine. I have mine out int he open where it gets straight north winds, too. I'm thinking of saying goodbye to my japanese and hello to louisiana. thanks for stopping by and checking out my space!