The Garden is a wonderful demonstration of the principles that govern the world within us and around us

It fulfils or the principles of The Common Vein -ie 1 + 1 = 1  (units to unity).   Creating the garden using this equation in mind, helped validate the concept for me.

When we moved into our carriage house in 1989,  the hill behind our house was eroded.  There were nine,  70 foot Maples and Beeches and all their offspring, which had accumulated over many years, scattered in a 5,663 square foot plot (.13 acres) – the smallest allowable plot for our  town – but we had a hill which gave us more surface area! .

There was no sun in the back garden since the shadows from our home and the maples and beeches  prevented us from having anything but a shade garden on the major portion of our property .  However in the front of the house there was sun.  Our carriage house literally abuts the sidewalk – and so the birm served as our sun garden and boy did we take advantage of that!

The three essentials for a beautiful garden are sun water and nutrients from the soil.  In the back garden we had no sun, and the water ran down the hill and eroded the soil.  We visited Peru and discovered the art of vertical agriculture – ie terracing. This design enables the the water to be retained in each terrace and prevents soil erosion.  We cut 2 or 3 of the most imposing big trees down – and it was so sad to see those huge structure of many years of growth, go down – but it did bring some sun to the garden.

And now to philosophy…

The existence of the  flowers and trees and ourselves as humans,  does not arise from thin air.  They have a history.. and they are what they are because of thousands of years of genetic and behavioral experience and modifications . We should not forget this

Dedication

The garden is therefore dedicated to my parents Percy and Joyce Stein Davidoff

This bench is in our garden

The garden is called LeDor Vador in Hebrew, which means from generation to generation!

The First Generation

Our Family Roots

We as humans, are a product of both nature and nurture.  The nature side depends on our  genes (our parents and ancestors) and the nurture side depends on our parents and the environment

While biological nature, at large, is dependent mostly on genes, a  garden is dependent on both nature and nurture as well.

The nurturing part of the garden is to ensure food, water  and sun.

So when looking for the naked truth – it seems more prudent, at least at first, to look to nature and the sciences of nature, to find the truth.  The more time we spend with nature, it seemed to me, the closer we potentially come to truth… and what better way to have nature in your backyard, in addition to intermittently spending time with it on vacations as source of a life pursuit.

We exist, and are what we are,  because of others who came before us.  The flowers and trees and the birds and the bees exist only because of something, and someone that came before them.  Hence it is only fair and right to pay tribute to our roots

I have therefore dedicated the garden to my parents and my roots …with full appreciation of the genetic lines of all that are planted in our  garden and all our non human visitors.  In the end – at least from the human side, it is not only about the genes, but also about  stories, history, lessons, beliefs, and inspirations.

A Second Motivation

A lifetime pursuit to understand

The Design

In the beginning … of the Garden

There was an eroded hill with  large maple trees  The canvas was clean and as in any project there had to be a plan before we started

The Concept and Plan

The idea of the beauty of the orchestra and choir unified by a central conductor or choir master inspired the idea of being the choir master and conductor to the garden in order to unify it and create an example of the 1 + 1 = 1 concept .  I picked the most central spot of the garden where the gardener would be able to stand and see all the members of the garden orchestra, and bring them together as one harmonious entity

Unlike the choir and and orchestra which are a one evening event, the garden needed to sing its song the whole year, through all the seasons,  and every year after that, and every generation after that.

Rules and considerations

1. Height of the plants
2. Color and texture
3. Seasonal variations
4. Accessibility
5. Orientation
6. Accessibility to sun
7. Accessibility to water

A lifetime pursuit to understand

I am going to tell the story about the garden and what has motivated my dedication to it – but before I do that, I wanted to share my attempt at a panorama view. I do not really want to flood you with pictures but this image gives a better view of what we look out to from our home… and how it will relate to the story

1 + 1 =1

 

The Garden A Panorama 0f a 180degree semicircle (2022 – and the rest of the story to follow

The Video

Click on the image below to enter the garden

A Short Video of the Back Garden

Video of our Garden

….and we do have some visitors from Africa made of soapstone in the garden, purchased from road peddlers in Swaziland in 1974 The yellow hue on the photo is from the sunrise this morning!

 

 

The DESIGN –

Modelled after the Choir and the Symphony

All the trees and flowers are oriented toward a focal point in the garden in front of the big pond (red asterisk) From this point the observer can see almost the entire 180 degrees of the back garden. The intent is to bring the garden as a whole unit to the observer, in the same way as the choir is one big voice to the listener, and the orchestra is one complex and astounding sound to the listener. – a “Wonderous Oneness” if you will.

 

Some of the Simple Art Pieces

And the Leaves are part of a bigger 1 + 1 = 1

In the beginning

 

A Garden Of and Made of Love and Gratitude to My Parents and Nature for All the Lessons They Have and Continue to Teach

The Stolen Kiss

Nature and Nurture

Nature – The Genes at Work – It is what it is!

An Allium with Genetic Variation in a Tall Floret while the rest make a perfect hemisphere and below

A Tall Person in a Performance Troupe- Also a Genetic Variation

Acknowledging the lessons learned in our garden, my parents, friends and teachers Le Dor Va Dor Nature and Nurture are key elements

The Miracle of All Miracles WOW WOW WOW!!!

The most miraculous biological event we can experience, is the human creation of new life. The plants flowers and trees, of course animal life also have this capability.

1 sperm meets 1 egg and a new spark of life is created (1 +1 = 1) … WOW WOW WOW !!!, bigger and more complex than the individual parts and given a favorable environment, and after division after division with cell differentiation the cells become 26 trillion cells in 9 months!!!! . — what a great investment, WOW WOW WOW – simply unbelievable. I challenge any super duper rich person to do the same in any period of time

The image above displays a variety of reproductive components of flowers. Male pollen seen spilling in the center hibiscus, fertilizes female ovules, producing seeds, and given a favorable environment enables the birth of new plant life.

Genetic material (nature) is passed on in both instances (human and plant ), and the ability to flourish requires nurture.

This post is dedicated to the miracles of nature (let us not take them for granted and we need to stand in awe – all the time)

These lessons have been learned from the garden, my parents and teachers – Le Dor Vador – from generation to generation

Nurture

Said the Mother to Her Child

Creating the Garden Rules to Ensure a Harmonious Environment

Said the Gardner to the Plants Trees and Flowers in the Garden or the Choirmaster to the Choir or the Conductor to the  Orchestra

In order for the Garden Symphony to come together in complete harmony there has to be an understanding between the gardener and the garden – each having responsibilities and rules to work towards pure harmony.

Said the gardener, choirmaster or conductor to the members of the group

I will look after you

I will respect you and your individuality

The way I have organized you, I am able to see all of you from the focal point so I can and will monitor and ensure your wellbeing

I will ensure you all get sun, food and water

Together you will make one beautiful wholesome harmonious garden. It will take time but it will come

Unfortunately time and disease has its toll on all of biology, and I will do my best to ensure kindness to you when these befall you

If I see that one of you is taking sun soil or water from another plant or tree, I will prune and correct the situation

We have to be together in this endeavor otherwise we will not attain pure harmony at the highest level

In order to create harmony at the highest level we will need to create rules

9 Commandments

said the gardener conductor and choirmaster to their groups

1- I am , the gardener conductor and choirmaster and am in control of how we will be as a group . If you choose a different leader we will never be able to reach a common harmony.  We have to be dedicated and committed to each other from the start – and once you contract in, you should not seek any other leader
2. You shall be dedicated to your task of bringing ultimate harmony to the world.  Do not lose focus and seek other interests that will redirect you away from your function
3.  You have to have full trust in and  respect of your leader There should be no ridiculing of the gardener, the choirmaster or the conductor
4.You must remember to rest
5. You must respect the generations that came before you  You are nothing without  the genes of the flowers and trees, or the music of Mozart, or Beethoven and all those greats that came before you
6. You must not kill other trees and plants, or other musicians or singers for that matter
7. You must not try and steal  the sun water or soil belonging to other plants or trees .. or steal  musical instruments
8. You must be honest to yourself and others
9.  You are who you are. Be proud of yourself, and of who you are .- Do not show jealousy or desire what other plants musicians or singers have.  You only waste energy in doing this and we need all your energy to have a singular focus

Time and Seasons

To Everything There is a Season

To Everything There is a Season Judy Collins and Pete Seeger

How to Prepare for the Fall in Our Garden and the Autumn of Our Lives?

And then there is winter

Our Garden – Winter at its Heaviest

The Fall passes slowly and we enter the cold and snow that drives all inward to seek protection The plants and trees shed their flowers and leaves – their energy source and their outside life of excitement that they had in the spring, summer and fall, now depend on their roots to sustain them through this difficult time.

What they have now is a history and a memory of Spring when they were full of energy and no responsibility – memories of Summer with friends social responsibilities, work, reproduction, family, flourishing , full of life – then the maturation process of the fall Now is the time for them and us to think about those prior seasons, and speak to the younger generation and impart wisdom No fancy parties are needed – No fancy clothes or cars, or meals or expensive wine – Just a nakedly honest review of real life, and advice to the next generation

Acknowledging lessons from the garden and my parents Le Dor VaDor from Generation to Generation

When the Spring comes – everything is so young and fresh and immature and so welcome- like a new born baby .  And this is the time to sow your seeds in the garden, of hope and dreams and nurture and love learned from our parents. Give your young flowers and your children every opportunity to flourish  They cannot recognize their own potential – They are empty barrels with a genetic story  when they start out,  and an empty barrrel with potential requiring  nurturing , love and nourishment of the soul in order that they can flourish

 

 

Our Visitors

“Keep your home open to all visitors” –

Lessons from the garden and our parents

Our garden has many guests – each with their own story to teach

I posted the Monarch and its amazing feat of a 2000 mile migration in the Fall to the mountains of Mexico

And now the American Goldfinch

 And now Lessons from the Chipmunks

The Chipmunk in Our Garden

Posing with the Soapstone Man from Swaziland

The chipmunk by its nature, is spontaneous and creative and can teach us how to be the same. They are beautiful, curious endearing animals, with huge personalities.

My mothers words ring true Dig deep into your soul and express all your creativity Do not let your creative side lay fallow Get it out whenever you can!

Chipmunks do not have many enemies mostly because they avoid unsafe situations, adaptable, and are not excessively discriminating .

And my Dad’s words echo in my head of focusing on a career, avoiding potential detrimental situations and to make many friends.

Chipmunks comprehend and understand changes in the seasons and store food for times of scarcity . Their homes have more than one entrance and exit.

My Dad as a 6 year old escaped the pogroms with his mother and 3 brothers with nothing to their name

Many years later, comprehending the situation in South Africa during the apartheid years, he and my mother saw the writing on the wall and laid the foundation for all of us to emigrate to a safer and more moral ground

Acknowledging the lessons from our garden and parents

Le Dor va Dor From Generation to Generation

Focus on the Prize

So on with lessons from the garden and my parents

We are up to the part where we learned that our home and garden should be wide open to visitors

The beautiful mysterious chipmunk with such a delicate touch and amazing agility, balancing on the delicate branches of the orange Cosmos, feeding on seeds and petals, without any disturbance of the stems, even while upside down.

Said the chipmunk to me “Speak softly and tread lightly on the sticks… if you want to get what you need”

And similarly ingrained by my folks “Keep your eye on the prize and go about getting it quietly”

The Squirrels

Our parents always called for a balance in life – just like the squirrels – time to have fun, and time to be serious.  The squirrel uses its times of play to enhance its survival skills.   Our parents always encouraged us to play sports – improving our agility and strength – using playfulness to gain physical strength

I love to go back to fundamentals and believe that the fundamentals of Judaism are in the ten commandments

Moses The Ten Commandments and the Children of Israel on Mount Sinai

When the garden was initially built and I found the spot of the conductor the big waterfall in front of the conductor and the story of the Mount Sinai and the children is relayed in the garden

More to come and show in the design of mount Sinai and the Ten Commandment

Children of israel