I was looking at The English Garden magazine the other day and stopped to read about a small garden tour in Great Britain, planned for 2011. Included was a visit to many of the most glorious gardens in that country. Someday, I want to see them all.

But an early morning walk with The Dog reminded me to appreciate the gardens that are right in front of me all the time. I walked up from the lake and glanced across the meadow to a chokecherry tree (Prunus virginiana) that grows on the edge of our property. This tree, and the way that it and the meadow were framed by the oaks and other foliage, looked as perfect to me as any famous garden.

I remembered that I once read that of all plants, oaks and cherries support the most wildlife. This added to my appreciation of the scene.

While most ornamental cherries in this area suffer from any number of pests and diseases, this chokecherry flourishes. And while the tree shown a bright green, the colors in the meadow plants were as subtle and filled with light as an impressionist painting.

This simple, uncultivated scene reminded me that the best gardens surround us, all the time. Be they literal or metaphorical, we are often enclosed by majestic environments…all we need to do is open our eyes and see them.

Although it’s been a mild fall, there is no doubt that winter is coming. We cleared the cutting garden this week and dug the dahlias…crates of tubers went into the garden shed to dry out before I pack them in newspapers and put them in storage until spring.

The Campania birdbath that I bought this year probably shouldn’t stay out all winter, but I’m reluctant to hide it away. I decided that it can go on the farmer’s porch, where I can admire it, and perhaps fill it with pinecones or beach rocks, but it won’t fill with rain water, freeze and crack.

Moving the birdbath prompts me to put the pots of lemon verbena and rosemary on the porch as well, and they make nice companions for the basket and chair that have sat there all summer. Once it gets colder I’ll bring these herbs inside, but for a few more weeks I’ll enjoy the role they play in this homey arrangement.

It’s very satisfying to rearrange things once in awhile. It allows us to see each object with new eyes, and to fully appreciate the composition.

I wonder what else I might rearrange… should I shift my patterns of working? Would this help me to better understand this aspect of my life?

Such reorganization doesn’t mean complete change, which we all know is usually difficult. No, a reshuffling of objects, tasks, or habits is merely a way to shake things up a little bit. It’s a means of saying, “Look at this!” and a reminder to open my eyes fully and pay attention.

The chair and wire basket have been here all summer, but the addition of the birdbath, and the two pots of herbs, makes everything new again.

I always get inspired when I travel. Yes, some of this is because I’m seeing new things and places. I also have more time to just brainstorm when I’m sitting in an airport or a plane…there aren’t any distracting weeds to pull or vegetables to harvest, after all. Beyond that, I think that there is something about physically moving forward that stimulates motion in other areas as well.

Today I flew to Raleigh, NC, where I’m attending the Garden Writer’s Association’s annual meeting. The next few days will be filled with great people, horticultural products, beautiful gardens, speed photography and seminars. A motivating environment that always gets me inspired and energized.

The key is to examine these inspirations, asking, “Are these diversions from what I really want to do?” and, if not, act on them by making a plan.. After previous GWA meetings I have redesigned my website, written new articles and started this blog.

Traveling is very motivating… I look forward to what will grow after this visit to North Carolina.

Being in Paris last summer reminded me that there are many ways to do things. Here, the blossoms from a smoke tree are displayed so beautifully with the blue Eryngium - two flowers we seldom see in floral shops in the United States. Yes! Common shrubs and perennials can be cut flowers.