When George Gershwin wrote “Summertime” back in 1934, he’d never live long enough to know that it would become one of the most covered songs in history (over 25,000 times), but I think the mass appeal of the song was that it evoked feelings of lightness and whimsical positivity about the warmth and magic that is Summertime. And I know this magic is especially felt by those in four-season climates where Summer is a short three months.

When I read Summer Garden by Rebecca Bowes, now one of my favorite gardening poems which I’m sharing with you today, I felt that same sort of effortless happiness. In her poem, she describes poppies like young girls in skirts, and dandelions running through the grass. If you’re reading the poem in the middle of Winter, it’s an explosion of nostalgia for the warm months, and in Summer, it’s a reminder that these are the good ‘ol days.

When you read this gardening poem, I think you’ll agree, so please do enjoy and share it with your friends.

A Summer Gardening Poem

This gardening poem comes from our archive that spans over 30 years and includes more than 130 magazine issues of GreenPrints. Pieces like these that inject the joy of gardening into everyday life lessons always brighten up my day, and I hope it does for you as well. Enjoy!

Summer Garden

By Rebecca Bowes

Like gaudy girls,
the scarlet poppies fling
their skirts in the air.
Sweet peas twine green fingers through
friendly fences,
beckoning each passer-by
with a come-hither scent.
The gardener,
in floppy hat and flowered gloves,
arrives with trellis and wire
to put a stop to it all.
Behind her,
dandelions escape in bright puffs
and run barefoot through the grass. ❖

By Rebecca Bowes, published originally in 2017, in GreenPrints Issue #110. Illustrations by Linda Cook Devona.

Did you enjoy this gardening poem? Leave a comment and let me know.