Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Garden Signs




These two vintage postcards both have pictures of garden signs in Florida with the same quotation by Dorothy Frances Gurney (1858-1932), an English poet and hymn writer. The first sign was at Busch Gardens, Tampa. The second sign was at Sarasota Jungle Gardens.

The quotation is from a longer poem:
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.


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15 comments:

  1. PatJune 1, 2011 at 2:38:00 PM CDT

    Great poem and beautiful signs! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. VioletSkyJune 1, 2011 at 2:43:00 PM CDT

    I really like the first one with the parrots!

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  3. Martha ZJune 1, 2011 at 2:51:00 PM CDT

    I've seen that saying many places but didn't know it came from a longer poem.

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  4. AnonymousJune 1, 2011 at 3:01:00 PM CDT

    thanks for sharing this poem. how lovely it is and first time to hear it/

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  5. RedPatJune 1, 2011 at 3:38:00 PM CDT

    I didn't know that it came from a longer poem either. Love that shot with the parrots.

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  6. LesleyJune 1, 2011 at 4:30:00 PM CDT

    I hadn't actually heard it before, but this is the 3rd time in a month someone has included it in a post!
    ~ yours is the best.

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  7. JoyJune 1, 2011 at 4:43:00 PM CDT

    I had to check the feet to see if they were real parrots, definitely a must in god's garden. So nice to read the full poem.

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  8. Postcard RoundupJune 1, 2011 at 4:47:00 PM CDT

    Wow, nice poem and great cards!

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  9. CarolynJune 1, 2011 at 5:56:00 PM CDT

    very nice qoutes...inspiring one:-) nice photos too :-) pls visit MY SIGNS,SIGNS

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  10. EG CameraGirlJune 1, 2011 at 6:12:00 PM CDT

    I'm another one who didn't know that came from a longer poem. :)

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  11. AnonymousJune 1, 2011 at 8:33:00 PM CDT

    Never heard that before, it's very nice. I, too, like the parrots!

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  12. Gemma WisemanJune 2, 2011 at 3:24:00 AM CDT

    Beautifully style4d signs with beautiful words!

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  13. tonyJune 2, 2011 at 4:15:00 PM CDT

    Lovely Signs & Very True!

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  14. Inger-MJune 2, 2011 at 6:57:00 PM CDT

    The parrots are so cute and colorful! Great signs!

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  15. Inside CambodiaJune 9, 2011 at 2:16:00 AM CDT

    Great signs! The one with parrots is my favourite.

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