Wisdom from the Gardens

What readers say about Wisdom from the Gardens...

Nature teaches us, August 28, 2005

I have been fortunate to visit Longwood Gardens over the years. It has always been a place where nature acts as a balm against our frenetic lives. There are many places to walk or sit and allow the trees, plants and flowers to fill our cells with restorative energy. Mary Beth Ford has beautifully captured how the gardens and in extension nature itself has helped her continually balance her life. I was particularly moved by the way our natural world helped her cope with the death of a beloved brother. For those struggling to find an internal peace, this is a quiet book which guides us through the cycles of nature as a way to guide us through the cycles in our lives.

By Dr. Aili Pogust, Educational Consultant, Coach and Trainer

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Connecting nature & spirituality, September 8, 2005

Wisdom From The Gardens was a joy! Not only did I find myself engrossed with the author's observations of her natural surroundings; but, I felt as though I was meditating, or in some kind of spiritual dimension. I was amazed by the clarity and sense of oneness that the author created for her reader. It was profoundly healing and wise - obviously written from the soul. A must read for anyone who feels a connection between the natural world and the soul of humanity.

By Rev. Jay Gullo, Spiritualist Minister & Metaphysical Counselor

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Life lessons for everyone today, September 12, 2005

I enjoyed reading this book the first time. Then I really read it and reflected on each chapter during a personal retreat. The topics are so timely and the content so real. I would recommend this book to anyone who seriously desires a deeper spirituality in everyday life. And if you enjoy creation, the gardens are an excellent context for reflection. I'm grateful to Dr. Ford for sharing her own challenges in seeking balance in a hectic world.

By Dr. Kathryn A. Miller SSJ, Chestnut Hill College

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From a naturalist's perspective, December 27, 2005

This book is written to bring the spirit of our Creator closer to anyone who reads it. Anyone seeking solace in the natural world will find comfort in the quiet yet strong images that the author has created. These images, while beautifully described, are also accurate and based in the interrelationships of ecology. The author has described the interactions of humans with the Creator's natural world using the garden as the metaphor. Well done! A wonderful and calming experience!

By Dr. Nadine McHenry, Widener University

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Life lessons from nature, January 6, 2006

Wisdom from the Gardens: Life Lessons is a beautifully illustrated compact book full of themes anyone seeking balance of mind, body and spirit in today's world will find helpful. This book provides a "spiritual blueprint" with nature as the medium through which Mary Beth Ford illustrates her own life-spiritual learning. Through each of the book's chapters she answers the question: What lessons does nature teach if I choose to quiet my busy mind and pay close attention?

Nature also brings me peace. Hiking is a very spiritual and exhilarating experience for me. I hike one particular mountain throughout the year. After reading Dr. Ford's book, I was better able to observe my own "tree friends" through each season and more deeply contemplate the life lessons presented in her book.

I like that the author does not claim to be an expert. Rather she humbly shares her life-long spiritual journey and learning with her readers. Dr. Ford is certainly a beautiful writer. One can readily picture the various images and feelings that the gardens evoke in her. She has lived a full life working in a variety of occupations and experiencing joy, sadness and many challenges. She wrote the book during the times of her brother's diagnosis and subsequent death from lung cancer, from which many of the lessons are derived.

Regardless of your spiritual orientation, you will learn much from this book-again and again! Read it through the first time, then keep it by your bed or desk and pick out a paragraph now and then to contemplate for the day. I highly recommend this book.

By Natasha Dachos, Social worker

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A wonderful, thought provoking and compassionate book, March 15, 2006

In reading Wisdom from the Gardens, you accompany Mary Beth Ford as she reveals insights of life's lessons seasoned by the blessings of nature. More than that, she has the gift of the great writers who transform the reader from casual observer to active participant. She brings you to a wonderful place, a comforting oasis for the mind; the air is sweet; your mind is clear. You're in good hands.

By David Parkhurst Crane, Classical guitarist and Grammy Award candidate

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