Nature

Beautiful Blooms – Blessings From God

/ Bill Jones / 4 Comments
Pink Hibiscus

Pink Hibiscus

Day Lily

Day Lily

Coneflower adn Devil's Trumpet

Coneflower and Devil’s Trumpet

I’ve missed a bit on the blog posts the last couple of weeks, but thought I would show a few blooms from the backyard. At the moment it has been dry and the last few days were super “wet” – not from rain but from humidity.

“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin : And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”  Matthew 6:28-29 KJV

Garden, Blooms and Scripture 8 – Angel Trumpets Galore

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Angel Trumpet Trees

Angel Trumpet Trees

Angel Trumpets Galore! We have an angel trumpet plant by Sharon’s shop that normally gets out of hand – growing every which way against the wall and windows. This year, we decided to cut all the stems back except two vertical ones and remove most of the leaves to make them look like little trees. That worked and they’re looking rather neat so far.

 

Angel Trumpet Cuttings

Angel Trumpet Cuttings

But, the result was a bunch of short cut-off stems. I have heard through the years that angel trumpets can be propagated easily from those stems. So,  I tried a couple of ways. Both involved cutting off a piece of a new growth limb about 12 inches long. You remove the leaves and get a stick like that in the pot on the far right (placed in there last week.)

The bucket on the left is filled with water and the stems were simply placed in there “right side up.” The ones in the individual pots were just stuck in typical potting soil.

The cuttings in the water have started growing roots and you can see the leaves that have come on (it’s been a few weeks). But, I’m really impressed with the two in the potting soil that have been there the same amount of time. The roots are actually coming out of the pots drain holes and going into the ground. That appears to be the better method. Now, I can start a bunch, plant and enjoy a few here, and give some away. (sounds like the three reasons to garden!)

“They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more.” Jeremiah 31:12 ESV

 

Garden, Blooms and Scripture 7

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Lavender and Rosemary

Lavender and Rosemary

Here are the lavender (on the left) and the rosemary under the windmill. First time on the lavender this year, too. I didn’t think about it until I started this series that there were quite a few new things in the garden this year. We weren’t expecting the lavender to get established since we’re definitely in the middle of the hot, humid southeast. But it’s just turning summer so we’ll see how it gets along during the “dog days.” Sharon has enjoyed the aroma of a few blooms already so that makes it a successful “lavender year.”

We know the rosemary can make it here. Sharon had a plant that lasted more than ten years, but didn’t make it through last winter. So this little one is the replacement . Might take some time, but it should come through.

“While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:35-36 ESV

Jesus went to the ruler’s home and proceeded to bring his daughter back to life!

A good reminder to trust Jesus to take away all fears – even (or especially) in the worst of situations. It doesn’t mean He’ll keep us from those situations, nor that the outcome will always be what we desire. The fear is driven away by knowing and believing that He will see us through them.