God

Garden, Blooms and Scripture 8 – Angel Trumpets Galore

/ Bill Jones / 2 Comments
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 6

/ Bill Jones / Leave a comment
Cherokee Rose

Cherokee Rose

The Cherokee Rose is the state flower of Georgia. It is beautiful, as you can see. Typically, this rose is a climber, but if you don’t give it anything to climb, it climbs itself. This bush is a mound about 6 feet tall and 15 feet wide. And, again, this year has been its best ever for blooming. But, you do have to watch for the thorns. The stems can get 1-1/2 inches thick and the thorns nearly an inch high.

“And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him.” Mark 15:17 ESV

The photograph shows well the beauty of God’s Creation, and should be a good reminder of the beauty of our salvation through God’s love. The thorns on the rose, and the verse above are reminders that our beautiful salvation, though freely given to us, came at a very high price.

Garden, Blooms and Scripture 5

/ Bill Jones / Leave a comment
Wildflowers 1

Wildflowers 1

We had to have our drain field replaced several years ago, so I planted wildflowers in the section of disturbed ground. They’ve been re-seeding and coming back every year since then.

Wildflowers 2

Wildflowers 2

The beauty of God’s Creation amazes me constantly- year after year, even day after day, minute by minute.

“And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he (Jesus) was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:37-41 ESV

Who then is this, that even the flowers burst into bloom at His call?

Garden, Blooms and Scripture 4

/ Bill Jones / Leave a comment
Banana Peppers - first year I've tried them

Banana Peppers – first year I’ve tried them

The banana peppers are another first this year. After ordering sub sandwiches with banana peppers, we found we liked them. Then we bought some in a jar and Sharon began putting them on our homemade pizzas. Good again. Now we’re trying some fresh ones – fun to grow but we haven’t decided if we like the fresh ones or pickled ones better. Pickled peppers are winning so far, so Sharon will probably pickle them.

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35

I won’t try to stretch things and make a connection between the verse and growing banana peppers. The verse just made me stop while reading. If Jesus was strengthened by prayer (and communion with the Father and Spirit), prayer is certainly expected, necessary and worthwhile for us.