Oasis. On the flank of Bald Mountain, lies a garden where Jacqueline can safely vanish, hours at a time. The Beginnings. In January 1993 a field and three large rocks met our gaze as we moved into the house. I dug a hole next to the biggest rock to accommodate a precious lavender plant and was hooked: a tabula rasa; my first flower garden; my very own creation.I dug up tons and tons of rocks and asphalt, depositing them barrow load by barrow load behind the barn. My back and arms developed large muscles! Neighbors dropped in for progress observations and teased, "You’ll never stop."The process was slow because unbeknown to me the original driveway lay under the sod. A three-by-three foot area requires an hour’s work. Consequently, like the proverbial "Mad dogs and Englishmen" I sweated through 90 degree temperatures. This is a mini section heading. Thus unskilled and unlearned in the art of gardening, with no design in mind, but with a fork, pickaxe, and wheelbarrow in hand, flowerbeds unfolded, grew, and changed shape. Each year, I moved plants, introduced new flowers, built new beds, and finally in 2005, surprise surprise, successfully grew many annuals from seeds.An unanticipated creative driving force and total absorption continues to bring serenity, and deep happiness.