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"Down
to earth, full of spirit, intellect and passion, Donna Schaper takes
us with her as she walks and works in her garden—her garden
meditations surprise, stimulate and sustain us."
—Amherst Bulletin
THIS
IS AN INSPIRING AND PRACTICAL GUIDE
for both garden lovers and spiritual seekers. The uses of the rock
garden as a site of beauty, reflection and spiritual nourishment
are many. Building a quiet corner of stones and plants slowly and
meditatively over time is its true meaning. Process over product,
journey over destination, forever a work in progress—rock is
the best metaphor we have of everlastingness. From choosing the
right rocks and plants to weeding and night gardening, this book
shows how to start or maintain a rock garden, whether one has access
to acres of land in the country or a window shelf in the city. At
the same time it describes the sacred meaning of stones and rocks
in many of the world's cultures and spiritual traditions, including
Stonehenge and Ayers Rock, the Western Wall in Jerusalem and the
Ka'ba in Mecca, Japan's Zen gardens, Europe's cathedrals, America's
temples and Egypt's pyramids. Both practical and inspirational,
it will appeal to everyone who loves gardens, rocks and the transforming
power of nature.
DONNA
E. SCHAPER
lives and gardens in both Massachusetts and Florida. She is the
pastor of a Protestant Church in Coral Gables, Florida, mother of
three children, and a lover of stones and flowers. Her previous
books include Gardening Meditations and Raising Interfaith
Children.
SIMON
DORRELL
is a painter, illustrator and designer. He is the art director for
Hortus, the international garden journal. He has designed
many gardens over the past ten years, his most recent commission
being the development of the gardens at Hampton Court, England.
PRAISE
FOR THE ART OF SPIRITUAL ROCK GARDENING
"Simon Dorrell is one of England's premier garden painters." —The
Blue Guide to Museums and Galleries of New York
"To
find sanctuary in the permanence of stone may give us needed respite
from a seemingly chaotic, ever-changing world. Donna Schaper's poignant
meditations enable us to relate to rocks of any size or personality,
whether or not they live in our garden, with the investment of our
soul. In her wisdom, she not only points us to rocks, but to Spirit
as well."
—Christopher Forrest McDowell and Tricia Clark-McDowell,
authors of The Sanctuary Garden
"At
last a book that outlines the history and meaning of the human relationship
to rocks and that shows us—with profound love and tolerance—how
we may continue to discover their hidden rapture within the sanctuaries
of our own backyards. Essential reading not only for the gardener,
but for anyone who sees stones as obstacles rather than vehicles
for creativity."
—Jennifer Heath, author of The Echoing Green:
The Garden in Myth and Memory
"Donna Schaper skips her stones through historical and horticultural
facts, philosophical and human musings in a down-to-earth and lighthearted
way."
— Gunilla Norris, author of Being Home and Journeying
in Place: Reflections from a Country Garden
"This
lovely book helped me to understand that working in the garden of
my soul and the garden next to my house is the same process."
—Tolbert
McCarroll, author of Childsong, Monksong and founder of the
Starcross Community, California
"Reassuring
us that we have a right to be creative and happy, Donna Schaper
offers us a "no-labor" way to enjoy our own life and goodness both
in the garden and in spirit. A great bedside book and a perfect
gift book."
—Beatrice Bruteau, author of What We Can Learn from the
East
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GARDENING
1-58768-005-X
160 pages (t) 5-1/2 x 8-1/2
b/w illustrations throughout
$17.00 Paperback with flaps
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