Burbank

“I love humanity, which has been a constant delight to me during all my seventy-seven years of life; and I love flowers, trees, animals, and all the works of Nature as they pass before us in time and space. What a joy life is when you have made a close working partnership with Nature, helping her to produce for the benefit of mankind new forms, colors, and perfumes in flowers which were never known before; fruits in form, size, and flavor never before seen on this globe; and grains of enormously increased productiveness, whose fat kernels are filled with more and better nourishment, a veritable storehouse of perfect food—new food for all the world's untold millions for all time to come.” ~ Luther Burbank

“His heart was fathomlessly deep, long acquainted with humility, patience, sacrifice. His little home amid the roses was austerely simple; he knew the worthlessness of luxury, the joy of few possessions. The modesty with which he wore his scientific fame repeatedly reminded me of the trees that bend low with the burden of ripening fruits; it is the barren tree that lifts its head high in an empty boast.” ~ Yogananda, 1952

“He is not dead! How could he die who hand in hand with Life lived! His every work was life and lives anon! How could he die? He is not dead! The good that he did, his love for others, his tender care remains, though in our memories, though in our minds, though in our hearts, still remains. How could such a one die? His work was Life, not Death, an ever revolving, ever progressing Life!.. The love that sprang from his heart, it nurtured his plants, it watered his trees, it gave birth to new species… spun new garments for his flowers; the very earth was the canvas on which he painted new colors, and here was Art indeed. He was the sun in human form… Each rose was Luther, ever giving, ever brightening, ever blessing all about. What matter be he Christian, Jew or Infidel, Atheist, Pantheist or even Polytheist. He lived and loved, and by his life and love all Humanity has gained, a gain not to be measured in dollars, or even in pages written about him. Yea, a man whom we shall remember not only in our minds and hearts, but even our very stomach and livers shall sing forth his praise. Selah!.. Where others strove to win, he strove to gain and gain whereby all men might gain. The dawn of Peace! That was his life, to bring us Peace—and as he passed, the message of his brow, the message for us all was Peace and Love and Truth. He is not dead!” ~ Samuel Lewis

“…Luther Burbank (1849 –1926) was an American botanist, horticulturist and pioneer in agricultural science. He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his 55-year career. Luther Burbank was highly revered through the United States of America. In September 1905 a group of California's most influential businessmen, intellectuals, and politicians gathered at a banquet thrown in honor of Luther Burbank by the State Board of Trade. Albert G. Burnett, a judge of the Superior Court for Sonoma County stated that Burbank had improved the community incredibly making it a place that people came "to sit at the feet of this great apostle and prophet of beauty and happiness... and catch some measure of his matchless inspiration." He also stated that Burbank's deeds were always done to "bring more of the sunshine of comfort and happiness into the cottages of the poor as well as the palaces of the rich." Burbank was a long time follower of Paramahansa Yogananda of SRF which are well known followers seeking God. Burbank's fame and admiration reflect the various ways people see humans' roles in nature, by our connection to the natural world…”                     ~ Wikipedia