The New Is Coming

Just as the year 2011 is finishing up, Oskar’s first bud has completed its cycle. And as the new year of 2012 is quickly approaching, the number two bud is beginning to unfold. I’m thinking that I don’t want to put Oskar back in the strong morning sun so the bud develops more slowly—so it will last longer.

At this time of the year I always like to assess the previous year, looking for a common thread and to remind myself, “Oh yeah, that’s what led up to that.” It’s also a great time to look ahead to the New Year to make plans all the while knowing that I have no idea what will happen next. However, I’d rather continue to “press on” to do the things I know I’m supposed to do, rather than float around at the mercy of circumstances.

I’ve spent nearly half of 2011 sharing my garden with you through this blog. I’ve enjoyed it; I hope you have too. I’d enjoy hearing from you either in the comment box or e-mail at leafyjournal@yahoo.com

Happy New Year!

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:16-19

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. James 4:13,14

Mud Pies

Though my husband is a non-gardener he tells me that he really enjoys reading this blog each day, “It’s refreshing.” He does say that he grew things like “giant” corn stalks when he was young.

Today he reenters the gardening world with a creative gift from family, a tiny greenhouse of miniature flower pots to be planted with “fragrant herb” seeds.


Much like the set-up for Oskar’s growth, this kit has soil “pellets” that spring to life with the addition of lukewarm water. The little “soil muffins” grow and grow to be twice the size of the pots! There’s even soil left over. Mud pies. My husband declares it, “messy fun.”


Next come the nearly microscopic seeds, mint, marjoram and the tiniest ones yet—chamomile pressed into the fork—fluffed soil.


And finally, the clear plastic greenhouse gets closed up to hold in the moisture that helps seeds germinate; then it greets the world from a sunny window sill. The sun is burning off the frost outdoors and warms us indoors—inside and out.

Hand-Me-Down

Hand-me-downs (passing outgrown clothing to the next youngest sibling) have gotten a bad reputation over the years as undesirable and second-rate (not necessarily accurate) but in the garden they can be a boon to smaller plants. Yesterday’s repotting of the Areca Palm freed up the ceramic pot it was sitting in (as a jardinière) for my little Chinese Evergreen. The plant is an offspring of my friend G’s mature one; I had never seen one this small.

The small terra cotta pot I in which, I originally planted it tended to dry out too quickly. The non-porous ceramic pot will hold moisture better but it has to have a layer of gravel or broken pottery in the bottom for drainage. One of my garden books says it grows well even in water alone—with a little charcoal*.

Since Chinese Evergreens do well in low light, this one was a natural for my studio. Everywhere else the sun has returned in abundance.

*Crockett's Indoor Garden;(Little,Brown & Company)26

Room to Grow

About a year ago, I decided that I needed some of God’s creation in my studio to inspire my creativity so plants were the obvious solution since I have neither the room nor necessary commitment for an aquarium. The trouble is, and this makes for many difficulties, though my studio window faces south, the deep overhang makes for little natural light. Since I’m very fond of palms and I knew that Areca Palms were fairly easy to grow, I bought a tiny one for my worktable. My friend G. who has a deep green thumb started has with a tiny one and has grown it as tall as I am (average height)! Despite the low light and my latent discovery that they like “high light”, my little palm has at least doubled in size over the past year or so.


Between its increasing size and occasional dried out branches, I decided that it’s time to move the Areca out of its flimsy three inch plastic pot to a nicely designed red-violet non-porous five and one half inch pot. The extra two and one half inches suit it well and the red-violet color will look a lot better in my studio.

The Areca palm is also known as “Yellow Palm” and needs to be kept “thoroughly moist at all times”*, which is why a non-porous pot will work the best for it in the dry indoor air. The Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Houseplants also says that it’s a slow grower, adding only eight inches per year even in the best circumstances—a plus in indoor close-quarters. Slow growth also keeps the cost of repotting to a minimum as well as the weight of carrying it when it comes to moving time.

It rained so hard this morning that the rain uncharacteristically drenched my newspapered potting set up—but fortunately I got it done without my getting wet. And now the sun is peeking through.

Better Late Than Never

Happy second day of Christmas! We once had a pastor who emphasized that Christmas isn’t just one day but twelve, and the relative freedom and relaxation that comes from not being so frenzied. There’s also less of a let-down he insisted. That resonated in my spirit.

Not only did we see periwinkles and a few azaleas blooming in the mild Christmas weather (50’s) but daffodils! The buds of the Bradford pear outside the window are also eager to burst forth. The really amazing bloom though is the bud I found on the “bronze-leafed plant”; this is the one that the plant vendor insisted, “Remember, it has to be really hot before it will bloom.” It was really hot last summer but no blooms and now it’s not and it’s beginning to bloom. Oh well, better late than never and I’m glad for flowers any time I can get them!

Maybe this winter won’t be too bad after all. I’ve always strongly disliked winter until I read in Psalms that God created the winter (Psalm 74:17). Since then, I’ve been asking the Lord to teach me how to appreciate winter. My friend the (small) garden center owner says that we need winter to “wipe out the bugs. Without it, they’d take over.” Amen to that!

Merry Christmas!

Oskar’s number one bud is in full bloom! Oskar has taken its place out of the sunlight (to preserve the blooms) as our Christmas centerpiece.

Since Christmas comes on the weekend and I only post on weekdays, I’ll wish you a Merry “Christmas Eve Eve” today. Though you may not have money for a lot of gifts or be able to be with family, Jesus’ birth is worth thoroughly celebrating and makes your life better whatever situation you’re in.

After I finished my lunch carrot the other day I spontaneously planted the top in a pot among the basil plant remains. My Brownie Scout manual had had pictures and instructions for growing greenery with kitchen scraps; why not? I had nothing to lose. Though what was originally planted is dying, new growth has already sprouted. It won’t make a new carrot but it just may make some lush green growth in these barren months—out of something ordinarily cast off. I see it as a sign of hope.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Then he (Jesus) rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:18-20 NIV

This is why he came; he came for you.

O Come Let Us Adore Him!

Don’t blame the innkeeper for sending Mary and Joseph out to the stable for Jesus to be born; it was all a part of God’s plan. It’s only fitting that when the Creator of everything (the Ultimate Artist; Colossians 1:15-17) was born among his creation, that he would literally be born among his creation. Historians say that the “stable” was likely a cave where livestock were kept, in effect, outdoors. The Star shone above, in the sky he created and the animals he created slept nearby.

Where else could the shepherds, outdoorsmen that they were, get in to see and worship the baby Jesus, the “Savior…Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:8-11)?

Winter begins today with a forecast of 70 degrees! Maybe the globe is warming but whether it’s a normal cycle or caused by excessive fossil fuel use—excessive fossil fuel use definitely damages plenty; we need to take care of God’s creation, which includes us and our health.

Falling from the Sky

Clumps of matted and molted leaves woven through with pine needles and who knows what else fell from the sky accompanied by loud machine buzzing. A large shadow loomed above, just behind the cascade. We had been warned that the gutter cleaners were coming (at last), warned to move our cars and cover our patio furniture to protect them from “falling debris.” But “Chicken Little” need not have worried; the overhang edged by the non-functioning gutters extends well past my garden. As for cars under gutters—highly unlikely.

Not only were these gutter cleaners neat, their timing was impeccable since rain has been falling from the sky since; rain is forecast to be falling every remaining day of the week—even Christmas. But we can make it cozy indoors.

Oskar’s number one bud has burst forth in bloom! Since it’s cool and rainy, the flowers will last longer. If it were sunny, I would put an amaryllis in a cool spot away from direct sun to keep the flowers fresh. The same would be the need for any cut flower; never put cut flowers on top of the TV or any other hot spot if you want them to last.

Surprise!

This is what I love about gardening, the surprise of finding new growth—especially when it’s ahead of schedule. The seed packets say that the seeds will germinate in 14-21 days! But I only planted them at the end of last week and here they are sprouting all over the place and reaching for the sun!


Oskar’s bud has been beautifully unfolding over the weekend.
Saturday—the color begins to develop and two flowers are visible.



Sunday morning—the buds break free of their enclosure and surprise, there are four flowers!



Early this morning, the flowers take their final positions and begin opening!
Will they open in time for Christmas? Lord willing, yes! And into the second day of Christmas and more. The box said that Oskar would bloom in 8-10 weeks from planting. Oskar did have a head start in that it already had a bud but from that small beginning to now has only been 3 weeks!

Life in its beginnings--and endings can happen faster than you think. Be ready. Most of the time this kind of admonition causes people to think of death and it is very important to make sure you’re following Jesus before that time comes but I also mean for it to apply to answers to prayer. Popular sentiment says, “God does things in his time, not ours…” in effect we shouldn’t truly expect God to answer our prayers anytime before, maybe 20 or 40 years from now. King David, a “man after God’s own heart”, didn’t pray that way; he prayed for God to answer him “quickly!” (Psalm 70:1; Psalm 71:12; Psalm 141:1 and more)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

If you pray casually, not expecting an answer any time soon, don’t be surprised at a delay but if you pray diligently (in agreement with Jesus’ teachings) there’s a strong possibility that God will answer you quickly (if not, keep on praying as did Jesus’ example of the widow bugging the unrighteous judge (Luke 18:1-8)! In this parable, Jesus promised quick action.

Multiplication

My airplane plant a.k.a. spider plant has been very productive in the warm months; it was time to let some of its babies grow on their own. I gathered up my empty plastic pots, washed them in hot soapy water and filled them with potting soil. Then I snipped off plantlets that most needed the nourishment of soil—and that fit the pots. I’ve been saving shallow clear plastic containers for saucers; buying them would be about 69 cents apiece! These new little plants will make good Christmas presents.


Though I potted ten or eleven plantlets, the daughter plant (daughter of my original plant) has plenty more in various stages of growth—a couple dozen.

True Purpose

It feels so good outdoors today, I didn’t want to come back in. I made the most of the occasion by sweeping up the balcony a bit—any excuse to be out there will do since I’m getting cabin fever with all the Christmas preparations; this is always an exacting task since the “floorboards” have space between and I don’t want to send any potting soil below. The pineapple sage and leftover basil stalks are still fragrant as I brush against them.

Inspired by Gayla Trail’s Grow Great Grub Organic Food from Small Spaces, in which she insists that “grub” (food) can be grown in the smallest of spaces—even a windowsill, I eyed my set of flower-decorated garden pots. I’ve lovingly carried these pots around since I was given them as a parting gift by my co-workers at my first “real” job; I was moving on to greater things. The pots however, have become a place to collect odd things that need recycling but I don’t know where to put them back into the cycle (light bulbs?).


I read a lot about “re-purposing” these days and I enjoy giving things additional purposes (often to keep them out of the landfill) but there’s nothing like getting back to an object’s (or a person’s!) original and true purpose. So I read the list of food plants that will grow in a “slightly shady” window, matching it with my supply of lettuce (two kinds), parsley and chives seeds. I emptied the pots, washed them thoroughly and added a thin layer of gravel for drainage, added soil then seeds, watered them and set them on the window sill. I’ll have to remember to water and drain them in the sink since the hole plugs are long gone and the holder doesn’t allow for saucers (I could put the whole thing in a saucer but it wouldn’t look as good). The “rooster plant” that reigns in this window has to move over; I’ll have to move them all out of the window at night to make way for the blinds. The seeds take about two weeks to sprout; I’ll keep you posted.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15,16 NIV

Bud Update

Oskar’s number one bud is beginning to open! Though it will take awhile for all the necessary petal tissue to build cell by marvelous cell and the bright red color to develop, this is an exciting beginning!


Meanwhile, the pink Christmas cactus has fully opened its wild beauty. At least two more buds follow.

According to the Church calendar, we are in the season of Advent—the season of excited anticipation of the celebration of Jesus’ birth and the anticipation of his return for his followers (John 14:2-4). Anticipation of the flowering of a bud seems a good way to celebrate the flowering of “the fullness of time”—Jesus’ birth, and his return.

Inner Growth

In reading yet another book about the genocide in Rwanda and the subsequent healing and forgiveness between the Tutsis and Hutus, I came across information about the land itself, “Rwanda is a beautiful country—one of the most beautiful in Africa. This ‘land of a thousand hills’ is lush with fertile soil, beautiful flora, and breathtaking landscapes.” *—a garden.

The Rwandans lived in a type of paradise yet the beauty didn’t keep the Hutus from turning on their next-door neighbor (literally)—even fellow church member, Tutsis and slaughtering them by the hundreds of thousands (800,000). Why? They cared more about politics than about loving their neighbors as themselves, more than about caring for God’s creation—people, plants, the land itself; all suffered.

As horrific as it all was, slowly but surely, Christian reconciliation has been sown in that devastated land and is bearing the fruit of repentance and forgiveness (the two must always go together). It’s never easy but it is powerful.


*Emmanuel Katongole Mirror to the Church (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009) 20

Stars & Prayers

The deep pink penta is still, amazingly, in full bloom. The penta’s neighboring prayer plant* has an offspring—a baby prayer plant (incidentally, the Latin word fetus means “offspring”--not blob of tissue).


Surprisingly, the prayer plant bloomed too—it must be happy! The small white flowers turned into seed pods, which produced tiny black seeds. The seed specks fell onto the soil and voila—a plant emerged! I didn’t do a thing except provide sunlight and water. I love spontaneous gifts like that.

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head." Mark 4:26-28 NIV

*As it turns out, I have two pentas and two prayer plants and have arranged them symmetrically with the two Angelonias in between.

In The Pink

The pink Christmas cactus has an opening bud! These are always a treat.

A red hibiscus flower bloomed yesterday and is still lovely today—a bonus of cold temperatures and a lack of sun. Though I am physiologically affected by a lack of sunlight (as everyone is, whether they admit it or not), the Lord has been changing my outlook regarding “gloomy” weather. As my family has a number of birthdays in a row, with one blessedly advanced, I’ve begun to realize that since God has given us each day, I need to make the most of it and be thankful, whether sunny or “gloomy.”

But it did feel really cold when I went out just now! When it warms up a bit (the sun is expected to visit later), I’m thinking that it will be a good time to cut the yellow green sweet potato vines way back, though I’m not expecting them to regrow since they’re annuals. It’s the end of the season for the now brown-spotted leaves but my indoor cuttings are still in good shape. Who knows, maybe I can keep them going all winter and not have to buy new plants in the late spring?

Meanwhile, it's a good day to play Christmas music and decorate. I’ve once again been impressed with how worshipful, meaningful and uplifting the words to the old Christmas carols are!

Watch the Glow

This morning’s sunrise was so lovely that we had to pause our rushing long enough to savor the pink and gold glow. Later as I sat in front of the morning windows the sun slowly brightened then faded and brightened again, as though on a dimmer switch. As I sat writing, the occasional bursts of warmth felt good, besides I was getting my vitamin D. The sun wasn’t present for long or often so I didn’t expect my hands to get sunburned! Aloe vera, another good plant, soothed.

Checking through the plants, I discovered that though some were wet others were dry, though I watered them yesterday. Plants, especially those in containers, can vary in their watering needs according to the size of the container, what the container is made of (porous or non-porous), or its location in relation to a window or a heating vent. One side of a pot can be wet while the other side is dry; the entire pot has to be evenly watered or half the plant(s) can die so it’s best to check each one individually.

Welcome Back Sunshine!

The sun is back and I’m rejoicing! The indoor garden is glad too since it doesn’t benefit from the rain. Though the remaining outdoor garden seems unfazed by the overnight heavy frost--even ice, the warmth is welcome.

I realize that I write about weather a lot; to a garden weather is everything (except in a very controlled environment) and to our lives—and all of God’s creatures, as well. Even in a building with no windows and plenty of artificial light, the atmosphere looks and feels different when it’s cloudy outside.

Oskar’s number one bud has shot up to a foot tall! Bud number two is progressing as well. Number one just might bloom for Christmas, if not the “first day of Christmas”, perhaps one of the “twelve days of Christmas”.

Morning Had Broken

It’s another rainy morning stirred by a cool breeze yet the first sunlight slides through a crack in the clouds. The growing light shimmers golden on rain puddles. The forecast says it will rain all day but the sun doesn’t seem to agree.

Alas, the clouds have won—for now, but the birds are still singing.

As I’ve chosen this morning to focus on the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8)—rather than the radio’s bad news, I’m feeling better and singing. Like the sun vs. clouds struggle, it takes perseverance.

Indoors where it’s dry with plenty of light, the deep pink pentas are still in full bloom as are the Angelonias.

Outdoors, not only are the ‘Million Bells’ still blooming as I mentioned yesterday, but the UGO (unidentified growing object)—“the bronze-leafed plant”, is full of rosy new growth. Even the purple sweet potato vine sprouts miniature purple leaves. The purple sweet potato vine has held up to the cold better than the yellow green one; my guess is that the yellow green vine’s larger, softer leaves—perhaps even its lighter color make it more vulnerable. Darker colors absorb light and heat and don’t reflect it (as much), which is why we wear dark-colored clothing in the winter.

Orange Bells

Though a little ragged, the ‘Million Bells’ petunias are still blooming, despite night temperatures as low as the 20’s! Maybe I will grow them again next year, after all. If I do, I’ll plant them at a lower level where I can see and enjoy them better. They come in a variety of colors; the garden center had entire hanging baskets overflowing with them in with several colors together.

The air feels fresher today after an early morning rain—we do too.

In these days leading up to Christmas, I’m asking Jesus to teach me deep down about his love. To God, love is a very big deal; Paul even said that without love he [and we] are nothing and gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13). If we don’t love our brother, we don’t love God or even know him (1 John 4:8). If we don’t obey Jesus’ teachings (such as “love your enemy”), we don’t love God (1John 2:3-6). It makes sense since God is love (1 John 4:16).

Loud, With Clouds

The sky is a gray blanket that bird calls bounce off of; one bird squeaks like a swing on its bar then a crow squawks either his prowess or unhappiness—I’m not sure which.

Despite the raucousness and gloom some new and good things are happening. Two tiny leaf tips and another bud are peeking out of Oskar’s bulb! Multiple buds are a benefit of the larger amaryllis bulbs.

Oskar is from Holland, where Brother Andrew* writes that during World War 2, his family and many others survived the famine of Nazi occupation by eating tulip bulbs. Maybe that’s why Oskar’s box carries this caution, “Not for human consumption.”


The Mexican Petunia is actually developing new buds while the miniature orange zinnia and Sweet William are blooming again. Today is also a Red Hibiscus Day.

*Brother Andrew is famous for smuggling Bibles into the foreign Soviet Union and writing about it in his book, God’s Smuggler—an exciting read!

A New Home for Oskar

It’s time to put the pieces of the puzzle together and settle Oskar into a home so that it can grow properly.

The directions say to put the “planting disc” in the pot—what an improvement over the usual bag of light soil that easily goes airborne, and add approximately two cups of warm water. It’s bubbling and popping; this is fun.


“Fluff with fork.” Hmm…dig might be a better word. “Add more if needed.” Yes, more water is definitely needed unless I want a solid bottom layer. Another cup; more digging. It needs still more but how much more? A little more, more—stop. It takes three and three-quarter cups of water. The gold-colored pot is heavy and warm, with no drainage holes.

I’m to set the bulb in the soil with one or two inches of bulb showing above the soil. This will take newspaper on the floor and a trowel.

Now that Oskar is settled in, I’m to put it pot and all, in a warm place. I certainly have that in the morning windows.


We’ll have to see if Oskar will bloom by Christmas or not—the box says “8-10 weeks.” I may have started too late but then again, maybe not. I’ll keep you posted.

The weatherman’s thermometer read 29 degrees this morning when we got up. White frost covered everything but I covered nothing. And everything from the purple sweet potato vine to ‘Victoria Blue’ salvia to the peppermint is fine (though the yellow-green sweet potato vine is definitely waning). It’s time to put away the sheets.

100th Post!

I began this blog last July as a fun summer project to share my balcony garden with you. One hundred posts later (didn’t know I could!), it’s become much more. It has helped discipline me in my writing and I’ve taken hundred’s of photos of many aspects of my garden. I’ve been happily stretched.

One friend is amazed that I can have such diversity in such a small garden. Plants change as they grow—that’s part of what I like about gardening. Several—even non-gardeners, have said that they find refreshment and stress-relief as they read my posts each day. I’m pleased. That's why I share my garden.

As I’ve shared my successes and not-so-successful gardening experiments with you, people from many parts of the world have looked in. Gardening is, for the most part, universal. Like it or not, small gardens will likely become the norm as cities and populations throughout the world grow out—and up. One doesn’t have to own acreage to grow a beautiful garden.


I’ve been amazed at the variety of natural kingdom visitors making their way to my “tree house” garden, some enjoyable like this tiny frog, and others such as the leaf-chomping giant grasshoppers, dreaded.

While I’ve dedicated this blog to God, the original Artist and Gardener,Creator of everything, I wasn’t interested in making it into a “daily devotional”. If I saw a parable then good, I’d share it with you but didn’t contrive everything to fit a devotional template. I have however, ended up sharing some of the deep things the Lord is working in me, along with the joys of his creation.

http://leafyjournal.blogspot.com/2011/09/same-song-second-verse.html
http://leafyjournal.blogspot.com/2011/09/garden-watered-by-god.html
http://leafyjournal.blogspot.com/2011/10/to-bloom-again.html


I’ve also shared some nuts and bolts of gardening how-to’s from my years of gardening experience, working in flower/plant shops and reading garden books—my first book club purchases as a child.


Of course, as an artist, color is a really big deal for me and
always influences my garden as well as my posts.



I hope you’ll "visit" with me in my garden for many more “sunrises.” I’d love to get your feedback in comments or e-mails (leafyjournal@yahoo.com). There’s even a place at the end of each post to click on “reactions” to the post and a place to click for sharing the post on facebook, twitter or through e-mail—bring your friends, the more the merrier. Thanks for stopping by!

Meet Oskar

Oskar isn’t a puppy or a kitten but a red amaryllis bulb. Oskar is the variety name for this giant red and there are undoubtedly millions of them—but then there are millions of Davids and Anns too. One of my garden books says that the best bulbs are sold by name rather than color; the named ones are grown “vegetatively” while the ones sold by color are grown from seed and not as good a quality*. The Latin name for amaryllis, Hippeastrum, is variably defined as knight on a horse, knight star or horse star (because it’s so big).

It’s been awhile since I’ve grown an amaryllis but I decided that it would be nice to have one for Christmas, and to share its growth with you.

I bought Oskar at a giant home improvement store, checking through several boxes to find one that had sprouted a bud rather than only leaves—sometimes if leaves come first, that’s all you get.

Boxes and boxes were stacked shoulder high; red, red & white striped, pink, pink & white, white & pink as well as white vied for attention. I leaned toward getting the deep pink but somehow, in my mind, amaryllis and red always go together—especially at Christmas. Besides, it had a gold-colored pot and I’ve inherited from my great grandmother, a fondness for gold paint.

My first memory of anything to do with amaryllis flowers is the name of the little girl in the movie The Music Man. A pint-sized Ron Howard liked her but was too embarrassed to talk to her since his lisp made her name very difficult to say.


Much later, though as I said, I had grown several amaryllis plants and photographed them and had drawn and painted most any other kind of flower, for some reason I couldn’t draw or paint an amaryllis. But I persisted and accomplished this collage/painting The Lord Turns My Darkness to Light.

*Crockett’s Indoor Garden, James Underwood Crockett; p.12

Golden Morning

I'm listening to the Weston Priory Brothers gently singing, and looking out at golden-lit pine tops while Cardinals and Blue Jays coast from one bare limb to another. Nameless smaller birds flit higher--in the pine tops, their smooth bellies reflecting the golden morning.

But then I see it; the Mexican Petunia curves up the balcony corner, branches (few as there are) reach through the rails into air, where last night’s incessant rain toppled it. So I run into the cold to right it. Brrr, a sweater isn’t enough; and to think that last night we were “sweltering.” I set the small pot with its giraffe resident up again. And again. Finally I’m hoping that the mono-filament line that gave the hyacinth bean vine height will now give stability to the Mexican Petunia.

The warmth of the morning sun on my indoor garden is more to my liking than the outdoor chill. Now that the pear leaves are gone, the bright light reveals dusty “Lucky Bamboo” and dracaena leaves. Warm water on a cloth or paper towel not only clears dust from the plants’ breathing apparatus but adds welcome humidity. Since dust always dulls color; their colors now shine brighter and that’s (almost) always good.

What’s in Your Garden?

Yesterday at church, an elder’s sermon asked the question, “What’s in your garden?” What kinds of thoughts do you plant in the garden of your life; what kinds of TV programs are planted there? Are they the kind that bear good and wholesome fruit or are they more closely related to thorns?

Botanically, thorns are stems that have gone awry through mutation; they were originally created to be stems or branches bearing leaves and flowers but became instead, deadly barbs. Even beautifully flowering plants such as bougainvillea, roses and cacti can have ferocious thorns and must be handled carefully.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, the land became cursed and would no longer produce good things without a lot of hard work—along with “thorns and thistles” (Genesis 3:17-18). The ransom of the earth from the curse brought on by human sin is tied to the ransom of humans by Jesus’ death and resurrection (Romans 8:19-23). Perhaps then, it’s no coincidence that Jesus wore a crown of thorns when he died on the cross.

The above picture is my garden as it was last May— these days, weather and migration to the indoor garden have left it looking sparse. However, I found this morning that a miniature orange zinnia has bloomed. With temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s, spring just may return—and if not, I have some ideas…

Colorful Company

The stalwart white petunias are no longer alone and no longer colorless. They have cheerful orange and purple violas (or Johnny Jump Ups) to keep them company. In pigments (such as paint or dye) white is considered to be a non-color (though in light, it contains all the colors). To an artist who paints in vibrant colors, white by itself just isn't enough. However, white petunias seem to have the most wonderful fragrance of all their fellows, so they usually find a place in my colorful world.

The petunias, though amazingly hardy in the face of several frosts, were nonetheless battered by an unknown assailants—probably snails or slugs. With trimming and new color, the whole garden-in-a-pot looks a lot better. I hope the slimy eaters don’t like violas.

I had bundled up in jacket, hat and scarf to venture out for the transplant but soon realized (after greeting a neighbor who probably wondered) that it was far warmer than I thought. Huh. Oh well, no problem; I easily remedied the situation by unbundling.

Gardens for Life

Happy Thanksgiving! Today in the U.S. we’re celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Many have lost sight of the intent for the day and can only think of turkey, football and “Black Friday” materialism but the original Thanksgiving, which has been reiterated by many presidential proclamations, was for the purpose of thanking God for his provision of life and the sustaining of it through food and safety.

The Pilgrims who celebrated this first Thanksgiving were a church from England, formed in the 1600’s when they saw no hope for positive change in the Church of England. They were persecuted for believing that a person could have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and for wanting to see “the churches of God revert to their ancient purity and recover their primitive order, liberty and beauty” (William Bradford)*, for believing that no one but Jesus could be the head of the church. They were “hounded, bullied, forced to pay assessments to the Church of England, clapped into prison on trumped up charges, and driven underground,” and “constantly spied upon”*. Finally, (to put it very simply) these “Separatists” had had enough and left England and set out for the “New World” of “America”.

When they arrived in the “New World” at Plymouth (now in the state of Massachusetts) weary from stormy seas and cramped quarters many became ill and died. Those who survived had little to work with physically or materially and knew nothing of this wilderness. Through an amazing combination of events, God sent the “Indian” Squanto to help them survive. He taught them how to fish and grow crops. Ah, here’s the garden part. Without the growing of food plants, they would have all died. Gardens were essential to their survival. But it wasn’t enough to just sow their seeds, even doing it the right way, it was up to God to make the seeds grow and give them favorable weather.

For this they were profoundly grateful. They celebrated God’s provision with a feast—together, as a community (not just as separate families). They invited some “Indian” friends who brought about a hundred more! In addition to the wild game the “Indians” brought, they shared from their gardens, “carrots, onions, turnips, parsnips, cucumbers, radishes, beets and cabbages.”* The “Indians” had also dried and brought some summer fruits from the wild—God’s garden, “and introduced them to the likes of blueberry, apple, and cherry pie.”* They had popcorn too!

Thank you Lord for gardens and farms and for those who work hard tending them to grow our food.



*The Light and The Glory by Peter Marshall & David Manuel

Appropriate Colors

I met a chameleon this morning as I trimmed frost-damaged yellow green sweet potato vine leaves. Though clinging to the green vine that I was “disturbing” and very near the off-white railing, he or she was a dark taupe color. Perhaps its squinting eyes were an indication that I had awakened it and it hadn’t had a chance to put on its proper colors. I assured it that I would be finished soon and wouldn’t disturb it further.

When I went back just now to see if I could find it to make a portrait, the chameleon had indeed turned green!

It’s another sunny though wet and breezy morning, the kind to bask in and the chameleon, despite the parade of noisy trucks passing through, seems to relish it. But I have many things to accomplish though the sunlight and breeze definitely make my tasks more pleasant.

Silver Glow

Here it is nearly Thanksgiving and the temperatures are in the 70’s again—eventually. The morning air is chilly but fresh, almost like spring but without allergies.

The pear tree’s branches know it’s autumn though with only a few leaves dangling, yet many new buds emerging (I used to think that trees went dormant once their leaves dropped but close observation told me the truth despite the analogies teachers like to make). It could even, like some cherry trees I saw, bloom in the mild weather. I used to be alarmed when I saw such a bonus, worrying about the trees’ spring display but they were fine.

The bougainvillea, though it has dropped a lot of leaves, is producing tiny new ones. To my amazement, the angelonias and pentas continue to bloom indoors; though the heliotrope is still opening a few flowers they’re no longer heliotrope but white.

All, including the two red hibiscus blossoms are enjoying the silver glow of the morning light. Fewer pear leaves means more sunlight that beams into and through the next room! It’s a balm to me as well. I’m beginning to produce more new leaves and flowers too—after dropping some old ones.

Fall Flowers

I finally splurged and bought a few violas to add some color to the stalwart white petunias. I never cover these petunias but they keep blooming—I rarely even water them since they’re in an inconvenient spot for watering.

The violas or Johnny Jump Ups were some of the few flowering plants available since most have been cleared for Christmas trees. These have a lot of spent blooms; some have even gone to seed. Though not in the best shape, they were some of the best of the group, and I can definitely rescue them. Some dead-heading and watering will improve their outlook.

I’ve had to do a lot of trimming today since I was half asleep when I heard Friday night’s cold forecast. Most survived well except for the long branches. It seems the farther a branch was from its source, the more damage it received. With more warm days and mild nights here and there, they may actually sprout new leaves, though those are more vulnerable.

The day started off without much hope for the weather. The forecast was for drizzle off and on all day. The way the sun is shining now, that doesn’t seem likely.