Thriving

The days are longer now, the weather warmer and the prayer plants are reaching up lots of new leaves! New growth is happening all over the place--indoors and out.

It’s often said that adversity makes people “grow.” I’ve long doubted that* and I see little evidence of it in the plant world. Plants can overcome great odds and grow anyway but they grow the best in good conditions.

When I look out the window at the beautiful white pear blossoms, I feel almost as though I’m living in a story book. I don’t even notice the smell anymore.


*The Bible does speak of spiritual growth coming from “tribulations” but the context of these is always that of suffering persecution for Jesus’ name sake—not the everyday hassles, not sickness or tragedy.

Full Regalia

At last, the Bradford Pear has fully bloomed. Streets are lined with them but I get to see one right outside the window. That’s the best way to view them—through a window. Unfortunately Bradford Pear trees’ beauty is for eyes only—not noses. They stink!

Spring is on its conveyor belt now—no turning back. Since we have an “early” Resurrection Day this year, we’ll probably still be a-bloom in colorful celebration.

Now Appearing

While I was away yesterday, the pear blossoms finally popped open—at least a few did while the rest are “sitting on ready.”


The northern part of town hasn’t shown many signs of spring yet—but these bloodroot wildflowers (in a public garden) were blooming profusely among new fern fronds and an occasional trillium.

There’s no stopping spring now. Even if it turns cold again—and it probably will, or snows (stranger things have happened), according to the plants, it’s still spring!

Nipped in the Bud

A low rumble vibrates the building as tree-trimmers buzz their way through Bradford Pear limbs—the extreme version of “nip it in the bud”. There will be at least one less large branch to blossom in the spring, yet the concern that Bradford Pears’ notoriously brittle branches when laden with ice or snow will fall on a car or person is valid.


Meanwhile we’re barricaded by the branch, fallen across the sidewalk—but yes, I remember there is another outlet…I just went outside to check it, but no, it’s blocked as well. So I’m praying for the safety of the trimmers in their mechanical buckets, and that I don’t have an emergency that requires me to get out quickly--I could though, eventually climb through the branches.

Now the grinding—the pulverizing, begins; branches spew out as “mulch” into the waiting truck.

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!

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.