Some years ago our wolf hybrids dug up and proceeded to eat the sprinkler system on one entire side of our house.  Luckily it was “their” area so I just decided to put down mulch and let it go since we had no water.  We have a koi pond though and it has since looked barren.  When I think of a garden my mind goes to an English one.  However gardens as we know them date back historically to about 10,000 BC.  Egyptian tombs have provided evidence of ornamental horticulture dating back to the 16th century BC, with lotus ponds surrounded by acacia trees.  The “paradise garden” is of Iranian origin, with one of its most important elements being water for ponds, canals, and fountains.  It spread throughout Egypt and the Mediterranean during the Muslim Arabic conquests, reaching as far as India and Spain.  Scent was also an essential element, with flora being chosen specifically for their fragrance.  I love the perfume of jasmine, honeysuckle, lilies, and old-fashioned roses which still smell like heaven.  It is said the cultivation of garden roses began over 5,000 years ago.  During the Roman period roses were grown in the Middle East.  I was surprised to discover that in the seventeenth century roses were in such high demand that royalty considered rose water as legal tender.  For me, an ideal garden contains roses.  However, I have come to learn that “gardens” come in many forms.  There can be flower gardens, woodland gardens, water gardens, butterfly gardens, edible fruit and/or vegetable gardens, rock gardens, and even bottle gardens.  Recently our little area went from rather dull to absolutely enchanting.  In our backyard we now have gravel, stone, and river rock around the pond, which has waterfalls and water lilies.  We also have a small designated area planted with my beloved roses.  The picture you see above is the result of an old cement garden knickknack I had which was buried under a pile of leaves and debris.  Now my tiny trio of howling wolves is nestled amongst leaves which produce grape-like fruit clusters.  Our little garden just about has it all:  water, trees, plants, flowers, butterflies, rocks, and bottles.  We didn’t spend a ton of money; we made better use of what we had.  Cory Booker, the United States Senator, said, “You’ve got to be one that, wherever you are, like a flower, you’ve got to blossom where you’re planted …”  One can bloom regardless of the circumstances, location, or time.  Witnessing the transformation of our little back yard has helped me better learn to utilize what I have, weed out the bad, to not allow stagnation, and to cultivate the good.  In short:  bloom where you’re planted.