The Design a Gardener Imposes

The design [a gardener] imposes
must be constantly modified
and sometimes totally transformed
by a hand stronger than his own—
the hand of Nature.
Maybe the art of gardening is
simply the knowledge of
how to hold that hand,
and how to clasp it in friendship.

Note: All week long, The Daily Gardener is sharing quotes from the author Beverley Nichols, who was born on Monday of this week in 1898.
Nichols wrote over 60 books - but he is best remembered for his gardening books - which include not one, not two, but three trilogies.
His final trilogy began with the book called Garden Open Today, which was first published in 1963.
This trilogy was different than his first two because this series is about imparting wisdom. By the time Nichols wrote this trilogy, he had been gardening for 30 years, and he was attempting to pour all of that hard-won expertise and passion into this final series.
This is my favorite quote from Garden Open Today.