Poems for the Gardeners

The Ancient Art of Moon Gardening
As handed down by
R.John Harris ~ Head Gardener

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                                   HARVEST TIME
                                    by John Harris

Harvest time is on it's way,
    People reap their corn today.
Farmers sow and grow their seeds,
    Think of those who are in need.
Farmers sow their corn and crops,
    Then they sell it to the shops.
When it turns to harvest time,
    the food is your, it's yours an mine

                   The Gardener's Day
                                 by John Harris

In the garden, so peaceful, nature takes it's turn to awaken, while some must slumber.

The owl from lofty heights swoops silently upon it's prey of mice and vermin, the hedgehog in the undergrowth seeks beetles, worms and slugs.

The new moon shines brightly, so that the gardener, when morn arrives, sees the plants with dew upon their leaves, it is the time to plant the seeds, for all good gardeners work by the moon, with all it's phases and it is a busy time.
    Seed planting must take place, for when with the full moon, harvest will reap a bountiful reward.

The gardener's life is always a busy one, for during the early part of the day he is busy raking, tilling, weeding, pruning, and keeping everything in order, as the heat of the day takes it's toll so the gardener finds a shady place to stand tend think, more often or not its under an old oak tree with so many tales it could tell.

The afternoon sun sees the gardener once more busy picking fruits and caring for his ways, for the gardener's life is a never ending toll of things that must be done, evening sunset is fast approaching and the beckoning of another day will soon arrive, so he must shut the door upon this day because his tomorrow will soon be another day.

                         For John Harris

    How many times have your stood at the gate of the walled kitchen garden with your hand on the latch, after a long day's work, thinking of beauty and design, chores and tomorrow's work, dreaming new beds of flowers, watching the light change and listening to the birds? How many times have you stood there in silence, awed by the beauty of the moon rise, and the beauty you have created?
    How many thousands of questions have you answered, many repeated hundreds of times, but always answered with kindness and clarity?
    How many people have sat listening to your brilliant answers on the BBC broadcasts, happy to hear their questions addressed, so thankful for your time and knowledge?
    How many miles have you traveled after a long day's work, to address groups of gardeners and garden clubs, only to drive on home in the darkness of a late night, hoping that your words did indeed teach, inform, help and encourage everyone lucky enough to listen?
    How many thousands of people have walked through your gardens and really listened to your words? How many people have really learned about moon gardening from you?
    How many thousands of apples have you identified over the years at Apple Day?
    How many times has the BBC rung up and begged you to drop everything you'd planned for a Sunday morning, to drive to the studios and fill in for an emergency?
    How many years have you given your time and your expertise to garden groups, civic groups, and the Newquay Championship Show, the charity fund-raisers for the Life Boats and the children's charities?
    It would be impossible to thank you for even one of those things to which you've given so generously, much less for a lifetime of volunteering and helping everyone else to learn and understand what you do in those beautiful gardens you have made.
    But I'm offering this as one small voice, one small attempt to say you are the greatest, you are the most generous, and the kindest man, one heartfelt Thank You John, for everything you do, for everything you share and teach, for you great spirit and your huge heart, thank you for it all John, and God Bless You.
Lisa Montrose, October 2008