Greater Backyard

From time to time I have the privilege of visiting large gardens that are either provided by the state or a private trust. I’m so thankful that these lands have been set aside and lovingly tended for our benefit. Those of us who live in “the treetops” especially need some gardeny terra firma to walk through and even sit in for awhile.

I don’t have time right now to look them up but I know there are studies concluding that when people spend more time outdoors, they’re happier and healthier. I know I am. Being in an outdoor garden setting, with some breathing room around, refreshes my soul. A mall just doesn’t do it.

Back Out

The “mother” spider plant, along with its companion geranium, is enjoying freedom outdoors back on its hook again. The spider plant did fine indoors—when I didn’t trip on its branches, but the geranium will do much better outdoors. When we lived in New England, I knew a woman who kept her geraniums blooming indoors through the harsh, snowy winters but I’ve never been able to pull that off.


Today is also another Red Hibiscus Day! The gorgeous red blossoms are opening nearly every day now.

Dreaming in the Sunshine

While sitting in the morning sunshine with my feet propped up I felt almost like I was at the beach—almost. “It’s good for what ails you.” So I began to dream of what this year’s garden could be like. I keep a garden journal in color pencil of my plans, of what worked—and what didn’t. This year’s “have” list is much longer than usual (it also filled a second page) since I was able to overwinter more plants this year. That will help.

This year hydrangea is at the top of my list since I so enjoyed a gift of some cut ones from my friend R’s garden. I favor the in-between red-violet ones. When we lived in a duplex in the older part of the city, I tended a hydrangea bush that grew in the mature landscape. I altered the soil in opposite ways on each side of the bush making one side blue and the other pink with purple in the middle. Our elderly landlady and her friends were scratching their heads, "How did she do that?."

I want to make the outdoor garden more of a place where we can spend time—a lot of time, outdoors. I think it’s important to physical, spiritual and mental health (barring the neighbors’ smoke breaks).

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.