Letter from John Muir to Helen [Muir], 1908 Jun 8.

Home June 8, 1908.Darling Helen.I\u27m getting desperately lonesome for you & must make haste with Stikeen & on to DaggettI\u27m trying to keep the place fine for your sake. In the afternoons I often go down into the parlor when it is full of mellow golden light, & it looks perfectly lovely, And in the morning the sitting room is charming also with its pictures & fire-place & pillows etc. I take good care of your rubber tree. It is putting out new leaves magnificent in size & shape. Your bedroom pictures are glorious in the afternoons. The roses are past prime; The geraniums are now the grand feature of the garden. They seem to be ten times as flowery as ever befor I\u27ve been thinking it would be a good plan to plant all the west side hill down to the road with the red varieties & in a couple of years the whole home hill would be red hot with color like the south mountains of New Zealand with Metrosideros lucida.The jasmine is in its glory & scents the whole garden,It is growing so vigorously it bids fair to cover not only the conservatory but all the east side of the house. All the fruit trees are loaded, I\u27ll have to send you a few car-loads of peaches etc. I\u27m so glad you enjoy your desert banishment, & that besides gaining health & strength you are getting beauty & wisdom from the wild nature about you - a kind of wealth that has no wings to fly. Maggie is better than for years & yearsEver affectionately John Mui