Garden Tour 10/28/17

Deadheading (feeding the compost pile), collecting seeds to share, putting the gardens to bed:

 A welcome late blooming mum.

 Fall snow:  milkweed seeds.

Found a strawberry this last Saturday in October!

When I see seed-bearing trees, I'm reminded of "seedtime and harvest" from Genesis 8:22

Crabapple tree.  Very entertaining.

In the spring, a buzzing tree filled with bees.

In the summer, busy carpenters build their nest in preparation for their family.

In the fall, a free café for migrating birds.

Moses' Burning Bush:  seeds and shedding leaves.

Always lots of baby burning bushes to share.

 Dogwood's Seeds

 Dogwood is changing into her autumn attire.

 Petunias still blooming.

Always happy to see the bees.

They arrive when the crocus' bloom.

Non-stop blooming mallow.  Thank you, Kathie.

Second blooming of the season:  cantoon. 

 

Surprised to see vinca in bloom.

 

I find the design of sunflowers awesome.

One seed produces a towering stalk and hundreds of seeds

as promised in Genesis 1.

I believe in miracles!

Rosa still blooming, producing rosehips, pretty foliage.

Must not leave out pine trees - reproducing as well.

 Crows heard overhead.

 

 Until next spring when Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter return to build their nests.

Never ending dandelions still popping up.

A bright spot on a cloudy day. 

The garden never fails to surprise!

Changes

CHANGES

Summer has ended.

Homework is tended.

Night time comes early

and becomes chilly.

Trees

leaves

are changing as if painted.

Each morning more tainted.

With a brush dipped

leaves are gold tipped

or painted red

or orange instead.

Colors only God could create

now humans try to duplicate:

burgundy, burnt orange, golden yellow -

though each tint and shade will turn mellow.

For you'll find these changing colors won't last.

In a couple of weeks the show will be past.

Even the sky is the bluest blue

this magical time of the year too.

These changing colors

attract travelers.

This rainbow now enjoyed

by ageless girls and boys.

A gift from Jack Frost

is free, at no cost,

as temperatures dip

and thermostats flipped.

Short sleeves exchanged

for sweaters changed

or jackets worn

with flannel warm.

Ones

nose

is cold as the season changes

Change always rearranges.

* * * * *

Change often comes unannounced

then fear and worry will pounce.

Sometimes unexpected illness or lengthy unemployment.

Maybe devastation of belongings or relationships.

Change, unwelcome, can be for your good, though,

for that's when we learn God is always faithful

for God will uphold you

and will be with your through.

Look for the many ways God does provide

when you experience change by and by

for change, or adversity, is a fact of life.

Cling to God's promises and you'll avoid strife.

The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him.

Psalm 145:13b-20

Dogwood dressed in her autumn dress.

 

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I, II, III

go to Amazon.

 

Autumn's Blanket

AUTUMN'S BLANKET

Rain came during the night.

Leaves now tumble in flight

weaving a blanket on the ground

where autumn's rainbow is now found.

Gently leaves float down, quiet

settling as a soft blanket

warming the ground

in rusts and browns.

Other leaves are bright burgundy,

or orange from sugar maple trees,

nestling together as they settle on the grass

where they'll slowly turn brown as autumn comes to pass.

The leaves will rustle when the breeze blows

making more work for someone to tow

but in the meantime they will cuddle

into a blanket in a huddle.

Covering the earth in a hug

waiting for someone to come lug

this blanket which gently settled

over the ground in a puddle.

Autumn's blanket in gold, orange, brown, or rust

with burgundy swirling around when a gust

of wind rustles the leaves.

A-choo! Someone just sneezed.

For autumn brings with it allergy season

until Jack Frost comes and it's freezing.

In the meantime someone snuggles,

under a blanket they huddle.

* * * * *

Snuggling under a blanket

at night when it's quiet

when the day is done

just before sleep comes

what do you think about?

Are you filled with doubts?

There's much uncertainty in the world.

Everyday more unrest unfolds.

There might be calamity

filling one with anxiety.

Many are in pain and distress

causing relentless ongoing stress.

Everyone everywhere has troubles

but bear in mind God is able -

for with God nothing is impossible.

God has an answer to your troubles.

He has a plan and purpose already in mind

to relieve you of the burdens on your mind.

The answer is found in patiently waiting

while everyday in faith believing resting.

Faith believing should be a place of calm assurance

that God is with you and will give you endurance

to battle whatever it is you're going through

and will bestow you with loving kindness too.

Yes, you are loved by God, it's true,

as each morning breaks anew.

Remind yourself, “I am loved by God today.”

It will help you cope with what comes your way.

And whatever comes your way might be God's way

to show Himself faithful to you everyday.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “the Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:22-26

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles.

II Corinthians 1:3-4

What is impossible with men is possible with God.

Luke 18:27

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:11-13

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:5

So we say with confidence,

"The Lord is my helper."

Hebrews 13:6

Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I, II, and III

are all available via Amazon.

All Creatures Great and Small

All creatures great and small...

the Lord God loves them all -

and He loves you too!

Cycles

From Volume III of Life Is a Garden Party,

available via CreateSpace or Amazon.

 

CYCLES

Spring is a time of sowing

seeds that will start growing

as rain and sun causes them to sprout

enticing the life within them out.

You see, in each seed is a miracle

planned that way from creation for all

to again recreate

what God did create.

Born in the dark womb of earth

this sowing of seed gives birth

establishing roots below

and green growth which above ground shows.

Dependent on the weather

determines whether

these seeds will grow

fast or slow.

Countless days and weeks go by

then eventually these seeds vie

for the attention of the grower

as the seeds bear fruit or flower.

A flower within a seed!

A miracle indeed!

Then the flower becomes a berry or fruit

or vegetable or seed fed through its roots.

What an awesome Creator is our God!

That a seed germinates within the sod

and will thrive though survival is hard.

It's like each seed can't help but give God laud.

It's now time for harvesting,

also known as reaping,

with another miracle continuing

as vegetables contain nutrition.

Some seeds are saved for sowing

to ensure a new harvest growing.

Provision for the future

each little seed ensures.

Sowing and reaping -

a cycle worth keeping,

producing daily miracles

that from the earth each year grow.

* * * * *

Miracles. Everyday occurrences

that richly blesses and enhances

our daily lives though often overlooked in our busyness.

Even often taken for granted, we'd probably confess.

Do take a minute right now to thank the Lord

for everyday miracles often ignored.

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.

As soon as the grain is ripe,

he puts the sickle to it,

because the harvest has come.

Mark 4:26-29

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Breakfast

 

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