I can think of no better form of personal involvement in the cure of the environment than that of gardening. ~Wendell Berry

I have often likened the creation of a garden to the process of composing music. They both evolve over time, are filled with color, movement, and sound, and each performance is never quite the same. For the last few weeks, I have been toiling over a second Before and After video of my garden, the front of the garden that is open to all wild creatures.

After I completed the video, I realized how similar the creation experience was to composing a complicated piece of music. Putting together a video that shows what can be done over a period of years means gathering 25 years worth of materials and creating a story that makes sense out of them, one that will not only illustrate the journey but hopefully inspire others.

2001

2024

But a 25 year collection of photos and videos is massive – sorting and choosing material quickly led to overwhelm. This wasn’t just about designing a pretty garden, it also was a complicated tale about creating a habitat for wildlife that evolved over time to support the life within it. With so many possibilities that could tangle the story, I realized that I could streamline the process just as I do when composing a complex piece of music. Narrow the scope, figure out the true story line, and keep it limited to just a few themes. What worked for composing music also worked for creating garden videos – the same process, different materials. Apparently, creating a garden video is also akin to creating a garden and composing music!

Here’s the final video – I hope you enjoy it, it has become one of my favorites. Special kudos to my husband Bill for recording my voiceover- he’s the best.

Spring is here, the snow has melted, flowers are finally in bloom and the birds are singing. Enjoy the season of new awakenings.

©2026, Lynn Purse, All Rights Reserved except where noted