Reviews from

My Redemption Garden

short essay

20 total reviews 
Comment from janalma
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Good and interesting essay. I know the feeling of rescuing plants that look like they are on their last legs. Not something that the garden guides recommend. Lol. I enjoyed reading this and am glad I'm not the only one who feels sorry for a neglected and bedraggled plant. Well written with a smooth forward and logical progression.

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2015

Comment from flylikeaneagle
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

michael: thank you for entering my contest. Well done, as always. I really like the quote at the end where you sit on the rusty swing on the old elm tree. Every plant has great beauty...

I think that with you being a caregiver, you have an emormous heart for people and express this in your many, many, writings.

I started in May, last year on FS. Brooke corrected my commas, Jay corrected my verbs and others helped me. So Michael, I will continue running the race and writing. We may compete, wing to wing, but we are enjoying the view!

I plan on teaching a class of poetry to my community (3000 people). I will be connecting the community education class with the library and the newspaper. Maybe, people will want to start a writer's circle. Time will tell. I will let you know how this garden grows!

Michael, thank you for your friendship and entering this contest! I got to fly! flylikeaneagle

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2015

Comment from Nosha17
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I agree, a garden is a treasure trove of tales and beauty, like the one you have. When we had our garden in Malvern in Worcestershire, we would transplant flowers and trees all the time, forsythia, roses and they all bloomed. Sounds like your elm tree knew it was meant to survive. Your garden definitely has a tale to tell and your love and enthusiasm shine through your story. Well narrated, excellent descriptions of the plant life. Good luck in the contest. Faye

 Comment Written 28-Apr-2015

Comment from mfowler
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Your story moved me. Few do, but this did.
Your story about the garden created from lost souls of the plant world is not only clever from a prompt perspective but genuinely heart felt in its presentation.
The elm tree anecdote was tender and filled with emotive elements of a narrative not normally seen in a non-fiction piece. I couldn't help but thinking how your work with broken people must be tied up in this story somewhere, a compassion larger than just a hobby. I wouldn't be surprised if you had a three legged dog and a pet tortoise with respiratory problems (just kiddin').
I hope you win this.

 Comment Written 28-Apr-2015

Comment from Brett Matthew West
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This story is well written with action that flows smoothly. Descriptive language takes reader on the scene and holds interest throughout. Write on.

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2015

Comment from CR Delport
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

At my previous house we stayed for 16 years. When we moved, there was no garden, but over the years it developed into an amazing garden with rose bushes, a pond, trees, and all kinds of flowers. I love a nice garden. This is well done. Good luck.
Christelle.

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2015

Comment from Deborah Marie
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Nice entry for favorite gardens contest; good luck. Beautiful presentation from picture, to clever wording from beginning to end. Also, wonderful progression, rhythm and flow for a nice read. Thanks for sharing and keep 'em coming, Deb

 Comment Written 26-Apr-2015

Comment from pattipac
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Mikey, I really enjoyed reading about your rescue garden. It takes a special-eye, and personal resolve to seek out and rescue scrapes of God's nature in hopes of nurturing them back to glorious bloom and usefulness. This well penned writing reminds me of how our Creator must seek out the most beaten down of sinners to rescue, and renew them with the breathe of life.

 Comment Written 26-Apr-2015

Comment from nelliesellie
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I love the picture. I love the story. You found orphan plants and gave them a second chance. Some were close to death and others would soon be destroyed. This is a garden to be proud of. This is really caring about nature. Great work.

 Comment Written 26-Apr-2015

Comment from jpduck
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I loved this piece, both informative and lyrical. If your elm has grown from a stick to a tree large enough to carry a swing, you must have lived in the same house for a long while.

A couple of typos (* *=insert; [ ]=delete):

'This little sapling probably had no idea *of* the predicament in which it had sprouted'

'Indeed, they were no different th*a*n it.'


Adrian

 Comment Written 26-Apr-2015