I noticed that too, how well my daughter understands what my garden is to me, and it made me happy. Yes, we have a close relationship. DD's dreams are in a continuum with her waking creativity and imagination. You're the first person I've heard of who had similar kinds of dreams, though I imagined she wasn't unique: uncommon, though. I'm creative myself, but not in that way. How does your creativity express itself in your waking life? Do you keep a dream diary?

DD is an artist, I think a good one, and I've told her that I think her dreams would make great graphic tales. However she has a major project that occupies most of her free time, and is a very slow worker, so I think she could never find the time for it, even if she had the will.

I was afraid that the gardeners on horseback would trample your smaller plants, Melissa, although if the garden was much larger perhaps there were only large and stately bushes. The army of gardeners, in a slightly smaller and more realistic form, could very well find a place in the garden of YOUR dreams.

Yes, Ingrid, I thought about that, too, imagining the horses galloping around, but maybe they could leave some fertilizer to make up for it!

A very dear artist friend told me that my dreams were the creative part of me needing expression. She had wildly imaginative dreams, too. I have kept a journal off and on, and do find that I am happiest when my creativity has an outlet. For many years, it was the theatre. Now, it’s designing my dream garden, painting, sewing and crochet.

I’d encourage your daughter to find some way to express her creativity, even if in little things, while working. It sounds like she has the talent and is a great fit for graphic novels. Keeping a log of some kind would provide her with rich inspiration when the time comes. :-)

It took me a long long time to find my creative activity, but I found it with the garden (and writing). I can't overstate how important it is to me. Perma, I hope your activities are fulfilling for you, though that's too weak a word. I know how many years I searched for a form of expression. DD is fine: she has drawn ever since she could hold a pencil in her hand, and is steadily productive and satisfied as an artist. Art is her avocation; she's an engineering student and happy in her major: both activities are important to her.

The horses stay on the grass paths, of course, cutting and fertilizing them, while the gardeners dismount and work in the beds. OF COURSE I'd love a full time gardener or two: who wouldn't? It's the dream of us all! I'd still have plenty to do.

What a great thread!!! I, too, have been blessed with periods in my life in which I've had some totally fantastic and wonderful dreams. Keeping a dream diary is a great idea, but it does require dedication for me at least; I have to write them down immediately upon waking, even if it's in the middle of the night,or too many important details get lost...