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!