요즈음 두산리 사택 서재에서 창밖을 바라보는 정원 풍경은 정말 혼자 보기 아깝습니다. 이제는 제대로 자리를 잡은 초록 잔디를 배경으로 정원으로 내려가는 계단 양쪽 난간에는 사피니아가 붉게 피어있습니다. 잔디밭으로 내려가는 계단 중앙을 통해서 바라보이는 맞은 편 벽 앞에 는 지난겨울 추위에 고생하고 살아남은 치자나무가 줄지어 서서 옛 모습을 회복하려고 안간힘을 쓰는 것 같습니다. 그 앞에는 캘리포니아 포피라고 불리는 붉고도 큰 꽃 양귀비가 소담스럽게 피어 있습니다. 게다가 또 다른 종의 노란 양귀비가 어제부터 하나 둘 피어나기 시작했고 때론 촌스럽다고 구박을 받는 노란 색의 금계국도 피어 있습니다. 꽃 색깔 중에 노란 꽃이 제일 흔하다고… 물론 노란 달맞이꽃도 지금 한창입니다. 또 노란 말채꽃도 질세라 한 송이씩 피어나고 있습니다. 그리고 백합화도 꽃망울을 준비하고 있습니다. 곧 피어날 테지요^^
지금 피어 있는 꽃만 아니라 겨우내 잘 버틴 종려나무도 상한 잎을 밀어내는 새잎들이 자라고 있고 봄날 일찍 꽃을 보여준 자목련, 백목련 나무도 한 그루씩, 그리고 탐스럽게 소복이 꽃을 피워준 산해당화, 들어부은 듯한 하얀 꽃망울이 탐스러웠던 조팝나무… 올해 일찍 시집와서 아름다운 꽃을 피웠던 라일락하며 아참, 빠뜨렸네요. 서재 창 바로 맞은편에 봄의 정취를 한껏 느끼게 해준 무성한 벚꽃나무를! 무성하게 자라서 앞집의 굴뚝까지 가려주니 그것도 고맙고요. 게다가 비록 꽃은 보여주지 않아도 그 자태와 검초록 잎이 아름다운 은행나무들, 그리고 연못 옆에는 대대적인 손질을 당한 소나무 두 그루도 아름다운 풍경에 기여를 하고 있습니다. 활짝 피었던 하얀 마가렛 꽃과 함께 이제 봄날은 지나갔지만 싱싱한 초여름의 풍요한 모습이 가득합니다.
그리고 아직도 어떻게 손질할 것인지 흡족할만한 대안을 마련하지 못한 연못 이야기도 해야 할 차례입니다. 거기에도 물에서 자라는 꽃들이 자리하고 있으니까요. 벌써 몇 주간 전부터 예쁘게 피어난 분홍색 수련 꽃이 연못 좌우에 한 송이씩 피어 있습니다. 올해도 작년처럼 물 양귀비, 노란 머리연꽃도 피어나길 기다리고 있습니다. 물 칸나도 잘 자라고 있으니 기다리면 꽃이 피어날 것입니다. 파피루스와 무늬붓꽃도 연못의 주인들입니다. 작년에 연못을 장악했던 부레옥잠은 그 왕성한 번식력 때문에 올해는 아예 금지 품목으로 삼았습니다. 요즈음 오시는 손님들은 정원이 예쁘다고 말씀해 줍니다. 그리고 처음의 황폐한 모습을 보았던 분들은 더욱 감탄합니다. 그러면서 올 때마다 더 아름다워진다고 말해 줍니다. 가장 듣기 좋았던 말은 주인이 누구냐에 따라서 달라진다는 말입니다^^ 그래서 “내 마음 그리스도의 집”을 떠올리며 그리스도께서 좌정한 나의 모습, 나의 삶이 어떠한지 돌아보게 됩니다.
These days, the view of the garden outside my study window at the Dusan-ri parsonage feels almost too precious to keep to myself. Against the backdrop of green lawn that has now firmly taken root, scarlet surfinia blooms along both railings of the steps leading down to the garden. Directly across from the center of those steps leading down to the lawn, a row of gardenia bushes that survived the harsh winter cold stands against the opposite wall, as if straining with all their might to regain their former vitality. In front of them, large and radiant red poppies—often called California poppies—are blooming in lush abundance. What is more, another variety of yellow poppies began opening one by one just yesterday, accompanied by the golden coreopsis, which is sometimes snubbed as too rustic. They say yellow is the most common color among flowers... and indeed, the yellow evening primroses are also in full bloom right now. Not to be outdone, the yellow dogwood blossoms are opening bloom by bloom, and the lilies are preparing their buds as well. They will surely burst into bloom soon. ^^
It is not only the flowers currently blooming; the palm tree that weathered the winter well is putting forth new leaves that gently push away the withered ones. There are also the purple and white magnolias that graced us with their blossoms early in spring—one tree of each—along with the Halla crabapple that blossomed in such lovely clusters, and the bridal wreath spirea that once hung heavy with lush, cascading white buds... And the lilac, transplanted early this year to bear such lovely flowers. Ah, and how could I forget the lush cherry blossom tree right across from my study window, which allowed us to savor the atmosphere of spring to the fullest! It grew so luxuriantly that it even hid the chimney of the house across from us, for which I am truly grateful. In addition, the ginkgo trees, which offer their graceful silhouettes and deep green foliage even without blossoms, and two pine trees beside the pond that underwent extensive pruning, all contribute to this breathtaking scenery. Along with the white marguerite daisies that bloomed so profusely, spring has now slipped away, but the abundant, vibrant fullness of early summer fills every corner.
And now it is time to speak of the pond, for which I still have not found a completely satisfactory landscaping plan. Even so, aquatic flowers have made their home there. For several weeks now, lovely pink water lilies have been blooming gracefully, one on each side of the pond. Just like last year, I am waiting for the water poppies and yellow floating hearts to bloom again. The water cannas are also growing well, so with patience, their flowers will appear. The papyrus and variegated irises are fellow stewards of the pond. The water hyacinths that completely took over the pond last year have been entirely banished this year because of their unstoppable vigor. Guests who visit these days kindly tell me how beautiful the garden is. Those who remember its once-desolate beginnings marvel even more, remarking that it becomes lovelier with every visit. The compliment that touched my heart the most was hearing that a garden changes depending on who its master is. ^^ That thought brings to mind My Heart, Christ's Home, prompting me to reflect on what my own life and heart look like when Christ sits upon the throne.
Deesdae voel die uitsig op die tuin vanuit my studeerkamervenster in die Dusan-ri-pastorie heeltemal te kosbaar om net vir myself te hou. Teen die agtergrond van die groen grasperk wat nou stewig posgevat het, blom skarlakenrooi surfinia aan weerskante van die traprelings wat na die tuin aflei. Regoor die middel van die trappies wat na die grasperk afdaal, staan 'n ry katjiepieringstruike teen die oorkantste muur wat die strawwe winterkoue oorleef het; dit lyk asof hulle met al hul krag swoeg om hul eertydse fleur te herwin. Voor hulle blom groot, pragtige rooi papawers—wat dikwels Kaliforniese papawers genoem word—in weelderige oorvloed. Daarby het 'n ander variëteit van geel papawers gister een vir een begin oopgaan, tesame met die geel gousblomme (coreopsis) wat soms as te platvloers afgemaak word. Hulle sê mos geel is die algemeenste kleur onder blomme... en natuurlik staan die geel nagkerse tans ook in volle blom. Om nie agtergelaat te word nie, maak die geel kornoeljeknoppe een vir een oop, en die lelies bereik ook hul knopstadium. Hulle sal gewis binnekort oopgaan. ^^
Dit is nie net die blomme wat tans blom nie; die palmboom wat die winter goed deurstaan het, stoot nuwe blare uit wat die beskadigde oues wegdruk. Daar is ook die pers en wit magnolias wat ons vroeg in die lente met bloeisels getooi het—een van elk—saam met die dwergkrapappel wat so bekoorlik in trosse geblom het, en die heuningbessie (spiraea) wat swaar gehang het van die pragtige wit bloeiknoppe... En die sering wat vanjaar vroeg oorgeplant is en sulke lieflike blomme gedra het. En o, hoe kon ek vergeet: die welige kersieboom reg voor my studeerkamervenster wat ons die lentegevoel ten volle laat beleef het! Dit het so geil gegroei dat dit selfs die skoorsteen van die bure oorkant ons verberg het, waarvoor ek baie dankbaar is. Buitendien dra die ginkgobome, wat selfs sonder blomme bekoor met hul statige vorm en donkergroen loof, asook twee dennebome langs die dammetjie wat deeglik gesnoei is, almal by tot hierdie lieflike skouspel. Saam met die wit madeliefies wat so vrolik geblom het, het die lentedae nou verbygegaan, maar die vars, oorvloedige rykdom van die vroeë somer vul elke hoekie.
En nou is dit tyd om te vertel van die dammetjie, waarvoor ek steeds nie 'n heeltemal bevredigende versorgingsplan kon uitwerk nie. Nietemin het die waterplante reeds hul plek daar ingeneem. Al 'n paar weke lank blom daar pragtige pienk waterlelies, een aan weerskante van die dammetjie. Net soos verlede jaar wag ek dat die waterpapawers en geel dryfblaarlelies weer sal blom. Die watercanna groei ook pragtig, so met 'n bietjie geduld sal hulle weldra blom. Die papirus en bont lissies is eweneens trotse inwoners van die dammetjie. Die waterhiasinte wat verlede jaar die hele dammetjie oorgeneem het, is vanjaar heeltemal verban weens hul oormatige groeikrag. Gaste wat deesdae kom kuier, sê altyd vir my hoe mooi die tuin is. Diegene wat die vroeë, verwaarloosde toestand onthou, staan selfs nog meer verstom en sê dat dit met elke besoek mooier word. Die mooiste woorde wat ek gehoor het, was dat 'n tuin verander na gelang van wie sy eienaar is. ^^ Dit herinner my aan My Hart, Christus se Tuiste, en dit noop my om stil te staan en te oordink hoe my lewe en my wese daaruitsien wanneer Christus die heerskappy voer.