Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Family, Family time, Family Traditions, Freedom, Freedom isn’t Free, I Love My Family, Love, Memorial Day, Memorial Weekend, Peace, Peace on Earth, Ragged Old Flag, Rest In Peace, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Gardening, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday on the River, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Thankful, USA
Early morning sunshine… Watering, feeding the birds and animals, feeling thankful 🙏🏻 Reflection on the reasons for our peace and freedom… Its a beautiful day!

Remember
Someone’s child, left long ago,
A strange land,
Someone’s foe.
An unmarked grave, fields of green,
Resting quiet,
Just eighteen.
Winds of freedom, wash us now,
Remember him,
This I vow
~ Victor C. Kleinschmit
God Bless America! 🇺🇸
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Believe, Dogwood, Easter, Easter Sunday, Easter Sunrise, Easter Weekend, God, God Bless, God Bless America, I Love My Family, Jerusalem, Jerusalem Donkey, Jesus, Lamb of God, legend of the dogwood, Love, Love and Meaning, Love Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself, Peace, Peace on Earth, Pray, Prayer Garden, Prayer in the Garden, Prayers, reflection, The Presence of God
I was thinking of the stories of the bible we learn from childhood and how they meld into real time in our lives… It’s Easter weekend and I wanted to share these two stories that I have always loved that tie into Easter.

‘All purebred donkeys are born with a cross on their back. A legend says it is the gift our Lord gave to the humble donkey that carried Him into Jerusalem. According to the legend, the little donkey so loved his Master that he followed Him to Calvary. Grief-stricken at the sight, he turned away but remained at his station at the foot of the cross. The shadow of the Cross fell upon him and from that day all purebred donkeys wear the Master’s Cross on their backs.’

Jesus rode in on a donkey… Then he walked and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane during the last days of his life. He knew what was about to happen to him and I think he chose a Garden to spend his last days in to give him the Peace, Clarity & Strength that he needed leading up to his arrest and Crucifixion (on Good Friday).


The blooming plants and feeling of Spring in the Garden bring Peace & Calm to the mind & Spirit, and in turn aid in ones thoughts and reflection…
There is going to be a LOT of Reflection for me during this weekend, and I hope to do much of it in my garden. I truly find peace and a clear mind outside within the garden. I hope you do too.
Have a Blessed Easter Weekend,
Peace 🙏🏻
Mark Carter
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Waterfalls | Tags: Forest, Memories, Moment of Zen, Monday Morning Moment of Zen, Morning Zen, Old Places, Peace, Peace ✌🏻Love ❤️ & Herbs 🌿, Peace on Earth, Peaceful, Place of Zen, Plant A Tree, Quiet Morning, Quiet Time, Shade, Trees, Woods, Zen, Zen Feeling, Zen state of mind
This was a place of Zen for me for many many years… Sitting or laying in the shade of this old Hickory tree. It was a host to mistletoe and a home for many squirrels 🐿 including a large number of flying squirrels… And in the Fall the golden color was so beautiful…

This 200+ year old tree is gone now 😢 But I still remember it… And I can still find a quiet peaceful place of Zen sitting under a nice tree or in the woods. Try it today and enjoy some Fall beauty ❤️
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Family time, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Waterfalls | Tags: Big Waterfall, Feeling Good, Gentle Sounds, Grotto, Love, Meditation, Moment of Zen, Monday Morning Moment of Zen, Morning Zen, Peace ✌🏻Love ❤️ & Waterfalls, Peace on Earth, Peaceful, Relaxing, Soothing Sounds, Sound Therapy, Tranquil Places, Tranquility, Waterfall, Zen, Zen Feeling, Zen state of mind, Zen Waterfall
What exactly is Zen? A client that subscribed to my blog asked me this question the other day at my Garden Center.
Well, I told him Zen can be described several ways… When it applies to the garden it simply means quiet, peaceful feelings.
From the dictionary it’s both a Noun & an Adjective: zen : a state of calm attentiveness in which one’s actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort Perhaps that is the zen of gardening—you become one with the plants, lost in the rhythm of the tasks at hand”.
I can say for a fact, that is the Zen I’m speaking of. It’s a feeling of peace and relaxation that I or you get from waterfalls, koi & gardening in general. Even a sunrise or sunset can give one this feeling 😊

The feeling you get watching the sunset over the water is a Zen feeling. There is something special about water… There is a bit of magic in it…
So many times it’s the setting or focus that helps you achieve this Zen… Another friend sent me a photo that his daughter took of their Waterfall. I think you will feel the Zen form this photo as I did 👇🏻
I hope you all have a wonderful morning and a great week ahead!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Hummingbirds, Koi, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunrises, Sunsets, Videos, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Bees, Compost, earth day, Nature, Organic, Peace, Peace on Earth, Plant a Flower, Plant A Tree, plants, Recycle, Teach Our Children, Trees
Today is Earth Day! What is Earth Day you ask… Here’s the official definition – “Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries.”
Like most public things right now, Earth Day celebrations have been cancelled for public gatherings… BUT, you can personally celebrate by doing something “Earth Friendly” like –
- Plant a tree (Native please)
- Plant some flowers (Pollinators)
- Start seperating & recycling trash
- Start a compost pile for organic compost
- Talk to your kids about responsible conservation

The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, with the goal of raising awareness about mankind’s role in protecting our natural world.
We are going to plant a tree on our property today with our son in honor of Earth Day! I hope you can get out and enjoy our beautiful world today as well!
Check out Googles Earth Day theme 👇🏻
https://www.google.com/logos/2020/earthday20/r3/earthday20.html?hl=en
Happy Earth Day!!! 🌏
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Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, Videos, Waterfalls | Tags: Blessed, Blessings, Christmas Love, Christmas Magic, Christmas Morning, Christmas Music, God Bless, God Bless America, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas From The Family, Merry Christmas Y'all, Noel, Peace, Peace on Earth, Peaceful
It sure does feel good to have family over for the holidays! Merry Christmas to ALL of you!
Enjoy the day!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Videos | Tags: Christmas Day, Christmas with Family, Family time, Fear Not, I Love My Family, Jesus, Love, Love Thy Neighbor, Luke 2:1-20, Peace, Peace on Earth
The day is finally here! Merry Christmas! The food, family & fun go hand in hand this time of year. But, it’s easy to loose sight of what Christmas is really all about.
This old Peanuts story tells “What Christmas is All About” in a really cool way that has touched many people over the years. If you follow Charlie Brown you know about Linus and his security blanket. He clings to it! But notice that Linus actually puts down his blanket while he recites the Christ story from the Bible (Luke 2:1-20). When he says “Fear Not” he drops his blanket 😊 Faith gave him strength over his fears…
Merry Christmas! Peace on earth & good will towards men!
Mark Carter 🎅🏻