Morning Peace

A red hibiscus (flower of peace) greeted me this morning. The buds start as tiny green knobs and seem to take forever to develop but once they achieve a certain level of maturity their growth accelerates. Once the roll of petals emerges, I can tell about what day it will bloom—usually in two to three days.

The hibiscus will need pruning soon. I don’t really like pruning but I would like more flowers. Maybe I can find a bright orange one at a good price this year.

In the photo you can see the pollen-laden pine trees through the window; other areas have pollen-dropping oak trees. Both kinds of pollen have covered everything outside for miles around. Even an aerial photo of one of our lakes shows a huge amount of yellow pollen on its surface. Reportedly, it’s the worst pollen “season” in a long time—maybe ever. I enjoy trees but I will be glad when they finish this cycle so that my eyes and nose can be at peace!

Few & Far Between

A “Red Hibiscus Day” again—at last. The bush doesn’t bloom very often indoors but it does bloom and I’m happy for it. The beautiful red blooms always brighten my day and after a day like yesterday—“one of those days” I’m ready for all the brightening I can get!

I first became “taken” with the red hibiscus when I saw them everywhere in Spain and found that they represent peace. Peace is a good thing.

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

Double Blessing

On the rare occasion that I find one of my favorite herbs--Pineapple Sage, I buy it quick; what a treat! The leaves really do smell like pineapple and give a hint of pineapple flavor to fish and chicken. The pointed leaves also add flair to salads.

I also enjoy their magenta stems but their red flowers are what I seek. Though small, these bright red jewels are rare among herbs and stand out. Red flowers aren’t usually my favorites, though you can probably tell that I’m smitten by red hibiscus (the attraction to those is a special memory), but Pineapple Sage flowers make my favorites list. The plant was blooming when I bought it but not since; I missed photographing it then and hoped it would bloom again so I could share it here. I was delighted to discover that it had indeed bloomed again.

Sometimes the herb can last two seasons outdoors, dying back and sprouting again in the spring, if you keep it watered but that can vary with how severe the winter is.

It’s a very cool and cloudy morning in the 50’s with temperatures expected to drop throughout the day as the clouds drop rain. Tonight’s temperatures in the 30’s may be the turning point of bringing in the more fragile plants that can be overwintered. The window areas are beginning to get crowded but once the pear leaves outside drop I can place plants farther away from the windows since there will be more sunlight.

Amazingly, the pear leaves are still green; they usually turn red and yellow but I only see a tinge of red. The autumn foliage in the mountains is reported to be the best in years; hopefully our hills will be dressed in similar finery!

Rose of China

It’s another Two-Red-Hibiscus-Day! Since I enjoy it so much, my hibiscus bush is my most photographed plant ever. In Spain, I discovered that it’s called “Flower of Peace”. Now I’ve found that it’s sometimes known in other places as “Rose of China”. Intriguing.

I discovered the name in a beautiful houseplant book by Reader’s Digest: The Complete Guide to Houseplants—The Easy Way to Choose and Grow Happy, Healthy Houseplants. It has large beautiful pictures and clear instructions. Information in books on houseplants often readily applies to outdoor container gardens as well.

I’m also pleased to read there that hibiscus bushes can live (indoors!) up to twenty years!