Gardens of Hope || A garden growing in support of others needing respi

July in the Gardens of Hope

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Bruce MacNaughton

Gardens are “an expression of faith” and “the embodiment of hope,” wrote the revered English landscape architect Russell Page in his memoir, “The Education of a Gardener,” in 1962.

Landscape, designed or wild, facilitates human health and well-being.

If you thought of your life as a garden, what areas could use a little more watering? Weeding?

Solitude is the garden for our hearts, which yearn for love. It is the place where our aloneness can bear fruit. It is the home for our restless bodies and anxious minds. Solitude, whether it is connected with a physical space or not, is essential for our spiritual lives. Henri Nouwen

"That beautiful season the Summer!

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;

and the landscape

Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"There is no season such delight can bring,

As summer, autumn, winter and the spring."

- William Browne, Variety, 1630

"Oh, the summer night

Has a smile of light

And she sits on a sapphire throne."

- Barry Cornwall

O, money can't buy the delights of the glen,

Nor Poetry sing all its charms:

There's a solace and calm ne'er described by the pen

When we're folded within Nature's arms!

~James Rigg, "Nutting Time," Wild Flower Lyrics and Other Poems, 1897

PS.

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Until it suddenly stopped making any progress and looked like it was stuck.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily, although it had a swollen body and small, shrivelled wings.

The man didn’t think anything of it and sat there waiting for the wings to enlarge to support the butterfly. But that didn’t happen. The butterfly spent the rest of its life unable to fly, crawling around with tiny wings and a swollen body.

Despite the kind heart of the man, he didn’t understand that the restricting cocoon and the struggle needed by the butterfly to get itself through the small opening; were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings. To prepare itself for flying once it was out of the cocoon.

Moral of the story: Our struggles in life develop our strengths. Without struggles, we never grow and never get stronger, so it’s important for us to tackle challenges on our own, and not be relying on help from others.

With Love from Prince Edward Island,

Bruce

Summer in the Gardens of Hope

Posted on July 05, 2019 by Bruce MacNaughton

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"Nature's beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude."
~ Louie Schwartzberg

Louie Schwartzberg
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/louie_schwartzberg_695321

Springtime in the Gardens of Hope

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Bruce MacNaughton

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Here are a few photos that were taken by Katherine MacLaine this week in our gardens.

"Where flowers bloom so does hope." ~ Lady Bird Johnson

The Gardens of Hope Respite Cottage

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Bruce MacNaughton

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In 2004, a vision was created to form The Country Gardens Foundation of Hope, Inc. large part of its vision is to build a “Respite Cottage” within the Gardens of Hope located in New Glasgow, PEI. These spacious 12 acre gardens were created for Islanders and visitors alike to enjoy the natural beauty of Prince Edward Island. An old Catholic Chapel called St. Joseph's , located at the entrance to the National Park in Cavendish, was moved to its present location within the Gardens of Hope.

With the renovations now complete, the “Respite Cottage” is a place of rest, hope and renewed spirit. The cottage is made available for individuals, families, or caregivers coping with the effects of a life threatening illness. It is also made available to caregivers and those ministering to others who themselves are experiencing compassion fatigue.

The Purpose of The Respite Cottage

Our hope and prayer is that the garden setting of the Respite Cottage will allow those who visit or stay to be ministered to by nature's beauty.

The cottage provides a warm and comfortable environment. It is a space designed for peace and tranquility.

Who Can Use The Cottage?

Individuals who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and are well enough to travel are welcome to stay at The Cottage for up to one week.

Caregivers and those ministering to others who themselves are experiencing compassion fatigue.

Non-Profit human service organizations for small gatherings or meetings.

Facilities