Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais
Many of you might not be aware that the Taunton Press, and thus Fine Gardening, is based in Newtown, Connecticut. Taunton has made this wonderful town its home for over 30 years. We’re all a bit fragile at the moment. Luckily, no one in the company was directly affected family-wise by last week’s horrible tragedy, but plenty have friends who lost loved ones.
Today I’m featuring a few photos from the park in the middle of Newtown called The Pleasance. It’s maintained by our local newspaper, the Newtown Bee, and no one who drives through town can miss this peaceful place. I hope even just a few town residents find some comfort here in the months and years to come. Give your loved ones extra-big hugs, and stay safe.
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What a so peaceful garden you have done in Newtown .
Love to all those who grieve for those lost and gratitude for such a lovely place where hopefully some can find the peace that passes all understanding.
How thoughtful of you. I did not realize you were in Newtown. Our hearts are broken, and our minds are stricken by this senseless tragedy. Love and prayers to all, and thank you for the lovely gardens and photos.
We are far from you in miles, but so close in our hearts. There are no words to express the utter grief we feel in seeing the faces of those precious people who will forever be changed by these events. Perhaps this is the final act which will bring us to our senses about guns and mental health issues. No amount of school lock down could have prevented this from happening, even the acts of such brave people, couldn't save these children. We as a nation need to help each other. Our little 2 year old grandson here yesterday while his parents worked, I couldn't help holding him closely and thanking God for him. Our hearts go out to everyone in this town and all you hold near and dear in your hearts. Peace and comfort.
What a small world we live in. You touch our lives everyday, Michelle, by bringing us a look into our neighbor's garden and as neighbors we feel the pain of the families there in Newtown. Please know our heart goes out to you.
Regina
So heartbroken for you all. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos as a reminder that there is still beauty and goodness at a time when such darkness rears its ugly head.
What a beautiful and tranquil looking public garden. I'm sure it has always been a place for quiet contemplative walks but now its soothing energy is needed more than ever. We are all deeply saddened by the terrible event which has struck your lovely town.
Prayers ascend for the all.
A nation's heart is with you.
Thank you for gifting us with a place of beauty to go in our minds to pray and meditate for all who have ever been touched by such tragedy and loss.
So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.(Matthew 18:12-14 ESV)
' And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.' - Kahlil Gibran
"Let the waters settle you will see stars and moon mirrored in your Being." -- Rumi
When there is a drive for a memorial in their memory in Pleasance park, please let us all know...to be a little part of Newtown,CT.
I find Peace in knowing they are in heaven...
I now envision those beautiful faces as dancing angels...
Peace
I did not know that you were located there. What a sad sad day for us all. My heart continues to break for these families. I know that God's angels were there to take all of them home.
Beautiful garden
Praying for peace and comfort for Newtown.
I just learned that last night when I opened my new book I had ordered from Taunton Pres......there on the invoice, Newton, CT. My prayers go out to your lovely town. Kathy
Along with other's posting this morning, my prayers for peace and comfort have been with you all and will continue. Each day we open this special email will be a reminder to pray for Newtown, CT. With sincerest heartfelt love and sadness. Hugs.
My perfect, funny, bright, strange and wonderful God-daughter is six years old. The thought of her fragile life being snuffed out literally brings tears to my eyes, and the saga in Newton--the loss of all those perfect six-year olds--has been heart-breaking.
I clicked on my daily e-mail from 'Fine Gardening' this morning hoping for some respite from the sorrow that comes from reading the front page of the 'New York Times', only to find that there is no escape from reality.
An apt metaphor for this situation.
Our nation must face the reality that we have created and improve it.
Meanwhile, I hope The Pleasance brings comfort to those in Newton who are suffering.
With heavy hearts we enter this Holiday Season. Please know that you are all in our prayers as we work through this together. May God wrap His arms around those who need Him so desperately in these moments.
Did not make the connection until today's message re your location. We are devastated and heartsick with the tragedy. Sending our thoughts and love from Canada to all there. As retired primary teacher, mom, and grandmother, I cannot imagine the pain and anguish. May you be granted comfort, peace, and strength.
I thank you for the pleasure of the lovely garden photos which I enjoy each morning with my own garden featured once as well. I also love the magazine and other publications.
With sorrow and caring thoughts,
from your neighbours in Canada (we live in Victoria, B.C. and visit the USA here on our west coast)
Praying for all of you in the Community of Newtown. The nation mourns with you
Our hearts are burdened down with sorrow for the families of Newtown. Praying that the God of all comfort will bless & use this beautiful place to bring healing,comfort & restoration to His heartbroken people.
Is there some way that we, as particapants of Fine Gardening POTD can raise funds for a memorial garden with the names of the children on it in this community park?
That gorgeous park was already a memorial waiting for an event, unfortunately it should have been a positive event. This recent tragedy like so many others that have occured in the past is yet another blot on humanity. When our founding fathers wrote our Constitution giving society the right to bear arms firearms were extremely crude and were muzzle loaded one shot at a time, who knew technology would evolve that produces today's laser guided automatic weapons... and this is why I abhor "hunting", which today is exactly/precisely tantamont to this most recent tragedy, MASS MURDER of INNOCENTS! There is absolutely no sane reason for such weapons to be available to the general society... and "hunting" must be outlawed, all it teaches young folks is that life has no value... so long as humans "hunt" and attend church (proving hipocritally absolutely that life is not valued) such tragedys will escalate. There is no good argument in support of modern weaponry/"hunting". I hate the term "wild game", murdering innocent animals is NOT a game/sport.
I have to agree with tractor1 about firearms and hunting....I do believe nature can be incredibly healing and your beautiful gardens in Newtown will be part of the process. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Michelle, for I brief second I thought of your 6 year old and that you worked in Newton. Then I quickly remembered you live a couple of towns over with me, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I am sure you can't look at your beautiful daughter and not feel the pain of those parents. I know I can't look at my little girl these last few days without thinking about those beautiful children. Before having a child of my own, these horrible events would have been awful , but more abstract. I would imagine for every parent out there, this really hits home. I don't know if anything could console me if someone were to take my little one from me. I am sure this is of little consultation to the families of those children, but know that we as a nation and beyond, have all loved our own children a little more and been a little more patient with them, since this horrific event. I pray for an easing of the pain for all those impacted. Let us all be careful not to politicise these events and respect the fragile emotions of those poor families. Thank you for the beautiful garden photos.
I can't agree with the idea that we should not "politicize" these events. If not now--when the reality of what our business-as-usual politics are doing to our children is so palpable--then when?
There is NO better way we can show the families who have suffered such tragic loss that we feel their pain than to react to their loss with meaningful action that will prevent future families from going through such suffering.
Condolences and platitudes are nice. Meaningful, rational gun control legislation would be a heck of a lot nicer, in my opinion.
Our hearts grieve with you.
Thank you for the beautiful pictures you share today. I would love visiting this park if it were in my town. The rock work and paths are wonderful and I love the little bridge with the iris on each side. The turtle is so life like. I enjoyed each of the close up pictures, the cones, flower and the fountains water dropping and splashing.........Maybe a symbol of the tears that are being shed in your town but hopefully the healing that those tears can bring in this beautiful place as well.
Thank you for the beauty you share with us each day.
I pray for occasional moments of comfort for the parents that have lost their precious babes and families that have lost those that they love so much. In life, sometimes all it takes is a momentary glimpse of beauty to give a bit of freedom from incomprehensible pain. The Pleasance just might be the starting point...
Well said, Michelle. It's good to have a reminder that a city is much more than an event. Here's a hug from the far Southwest corner of the US.
Thank you, Michelle, for the gifts of beauty you give us each day in our email, but especially today. I agree with most of the comments above, and pray not only that those left behind by this tragedy may find some peace, but our nation may not have to endure any more such horrific events. God's blessings on your community, and hopes that this lovely garden may help bring peace to those in pain.
Just got to look at this. Beautiful photos , beautiful serene space. I am so sorry for the hurt your town is suffering. We are all hurting for you. Certainly this beautiful space provides a place of respite in any season. The trees, shrubs and flowers are reminders that life is a cycle, our world is ever changing, and each day is full of miracles. God bless you all.
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