The Gardener

The old Gardener working in the Garden in Vila Franca do Campo. It was obvious he was too shy to be talking to us, and
of course he couldn't speak english. I am sure he could have had a lot to tell about his life in this beautiful,
hidden garden in the mountains.







To tend a garden is deep intimacy. Over time, a garden becomes a soulful space.
Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.

Swan Lake in The Tree Fern Garden

Nokia Blues

And when you look out the Hotel window there's always Nokia. Photo from Ponta Delgada, San Miguel. Hotel Do Colegio. **
And a glimpse of The Atlantic Ocean in the distance . . .

Cete Cidades

Sete Cidades is a civil parish in the center of the municipality of Ponta Delgada, that is likewise located in the center of a
massive volcanic crater three miles across, also referred to as Sete Cidades. The smallest parish by population (although
largest in area), Sete Cidades's population was 858 (2001), in an area of 19.22 km² (its density is 44.6/km²).
The parish is widely recognized as an ex-libris of the island of São Miguel by locals and members of the Portuguese diaspora.
From Wikipedia*

The Terre Nostra Garden ( The Animals )

Based on plantations started by Thomas Hickling in the 18th century and continued in the 19th century, Terra Nostra Park,
in the picturesque parish of Furnas, is a romantic vision of ponds, winding paths, flowers, centuries-old exotic trees and
silence. Two streams converge in the park and there is a pond of warm thermal water that is used as a swimming-pool.















In 1990 Filipe Bensaude started another renovation of The Terra Nostre Garden with English gardeners and a
handful of tree surgeons. Local engineers rebuilt the canals and the tree surgeons worked on approximately 2,500 trees.
New species of trees and plants were brought in including a collection of Rhododendrons, a Malesian native species of
tropical mountains. Terra Nostra is the only garden in Europe that can grow these plants outdoors and unprotected.
Most recently a garden of cycads, a fern garden and formal flower and plant gardens were added.
Going to the Azores, or more specifically to São Miguel without visiting this garden is much like going to Rome and
not visiting the Sistine Chapel."

Gingko Biloba and a smiling dog

The Mystic Terra Nostra Garden

Roots

Moesgaard Museum & Park

Cat Haiku

You never feed me.
Perhaps I'll sleep on your face.
That will show you.

You must scratch me there!
Yes, above my tail! Behold,
elevator butt.

I need a new toy.
Tail of black dog keeps good time.
Pounce! good dog! good dog!

The rule for today.
Touch my tail, I shred your hand.
New rule tomorrow.

In deep sleep hear sound
Cat vomit hairball somewhere.
Will find in morning.

Grace personified
I leap into the window
I meant to do that

Blur of motion, then-
Silence, me, a paper bag
What is so funny?

The mighty hunter
Returns with gifts of plump birds
Your foot just squashed one.

You're always typing
Well, let's see you ignore my
Sitting on your hands.

My small cardboard box
You cannot see me if I
Can just hide my head.

Terrible battle
I fought for hours. Come and see!
What's a "term paper"?

Kitty likes plastic
Confuses for litter box
Don't leave tarp around

Small brave carnivores
Kill pine cones and mosquitoes
Fear vacuum cleaner

Want to trim my claws
Don't even think about it!
My yelps will wake the dead

I want to be close
To you. Can I fit my head
inside your armpit?

Wanna go outside.
Oh, no! Help! I got outside!
Let me back inside!

Oh no! Big One
has been trapped by newspaper.
Cat to the rescue!

Humans are so strange.
Mine lies still in the bed, then screams!
My claws aren't that sharp....

Cats meow out of angst
"Thumbs! If only we had thumbs!
We could break so much"

Litter box not there
You must have moved it again
I'll crap in the sink

The Big Ones snore now
Every room is dark and cold
time for "Cup Hockey"

We're almost equals
I purr to show I love you
Want to smell my butt.

Lemon Yellow Christmas

Christmas in Ponte Delgada