Thanks be unto God for his Unspeakable Gift. - II Corinthians 9:15

The Unspeakable Gift - Our gracious Lord has so extended His love and mercy to us in giving a bountiful harvest, beauty through every aspect of His creation and the promise of peace of mind while on this temporary dwelling with the hope of an eternal future with Him.  All of this goodness that we experience and look forward to has come through one ultimate gift -- so pure and precious -- we cannot speak of the priceless sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ who redeemed His people through His blood on Calvary's cross.  Praise be His holy Name.

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you ... now He that ministers seed to the sower both ministers bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us Thanksgiving to God."  II Corinthians 9: 8-11

Preserving Autumn

"Delicious Autumn! My very soul is wedded to it.  And, if I were a bird, I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."  George Eliot aka Mary Anne Evans.

To some, the coming of Autumn brings a touch of despondency for the shortened days, weather's chill, and the decline of summer's blooms.  How could one experience such?  Summer's blossoms are soon replaced with the beauty of Autumn's palette: golden highlights across the fields, bursts of orange among the trees and crimson ornamentation near the pickett fences and porches.  The wonder of Autumn's colors never ceases to amaze me! Road travelers who venture out in October's countryside, view nature's glow and are awestruck.  Fisherman traveling to that salmon stream are overcome by the rich colors they encounter during their three day outing.  Hikers and bikers often select October for their weekend getaway knowing the fabulous scenery that awaits them is unmatched during any other season. 

If you'd like to preserve such beauty, collect autumn leaves at their colorful peak; press them in the phone book for a day or two; then dip these treasures in melted wax.  Gulf wax, sold in a butter size box, works best.  Remove one rectangle, melt it in a double boiler pan (with hot water below) using an aluminum pie plate at the top.  The wax melts quickly and is ready for dipping. Turn off the heat. It's best to hold on to your leaf with kitchen tongs by the stem.  Gently dip it and shape it near the edge of the pan - curl the edges slightly.  Shake excess wax gently and lay each leaf on a sheet of wax paper.  It dries in minutes.  Each rectangle of gulf wax will coat at least 50 med. leaves.  You can dip your dried rose buds, too!   These will last for months without crumbling.  I even have boxed my favorites to save them for the next year. 
                                                                                                                                                    
God's word tells us that our Lord preserves us and helps us in Psam 116:6. "O Lord, thou preservest man and beast" Psalm 36:6.  Preserving is more than saving for the future, it is keeping safe from injury or harm as in Proverbs 2:8 "He preserveth the way of His saints."  It's a lovely promise: Preserved by Him.

A Touch of Pink

Dianthus - Pink, White centers

The color pink always reminds me of the heart as well as tranquility, harmony, sentimentality ~ pleasant emotions harbored in our hearts.  I guess that is why I like to sprinkle pink perennials - bright to pale - throughout my garden.  The very hardy Dianthus which means "divine flower" comes in a variety of colors; there are over 300 species! This family includes Carnations, Pinks, and Sweet William. The photographed plant is one of my favorites because the outer petal is so vibrant while the center in contrast is pure white. Dianthus need at least 4-5 hours of sun, well drained/rich soil, and watered well once or twice a week.  If you cut the dried flowers back, expect continuous blooms.  Be sure to divide the plant in fall or spring. 

Below to the right is the Bee Balm with nectar attractive to bees as well as hummingbirds and butterflies.

Monarda - Bee Balm - Pink

These plants easily grow from 2' to 4' tall with the right conditions.  They'll stand up to full sun as well as light shade.  Well drained soil is best as you may notice powder mildew if the location is too shady or too wet.  The most common color is the red which has been referred to as "Fire Crackers;" possibly because this plant will often open to wide blooms close to July 4th.  You'll also find white bee balm; however, my favorite is  soft pink, reflective of this pleasing and practical plant. 

Back to our heart with a thought from Psalm 27:14 "Be of good courage, He shall strengthen thine Heart."  Claim this promise when you need a lift -- let the color pink fill you with a calming confidence that your heart, the seat of your emotions, can rest on the strength of the Lord. Think Pink!!

"Into the Garden"

Genesis 2:15 "And the Lord God took man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and keep it." Wouldn't you have to say that the oldest profession is horticulture-gardening,farming? I've heard other claims; yet, according to the Bible, we see the first man given a responsibility of dressing and keeping the garden. This was actually before the word "sorrow" was introduced to Adam and Eve when the curse brought the concept of difficult labor, associated with sweat, from beating down the thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:17-19).
Now, I am thinking that since there was no sorrow associated with Adam's first role, and no pressure to provide for his wife and family, that tending the garden must have been an enjoyable task. He was a perfect man, in a perfect environment, with the perfect Creator as friend and teacher. It just seems natural that dressing and keeping this beautiful Garden of Eden must have been the perfect hobby. It is no wonder that so many of us find such pleasure in examining each of our blooming annuals, monitoring the growth of our perenniels, and catching in the scents of our fragrant herbs. Think of Adam and the Beauty of Eden next time you step "into the garden."
A few years ago, I stepped into the garden to find what appeared to be a wild rose bush trying to grow under our mammoth maple tree. I doubted whether it would ever flower. I watered it, and trimmed it, and nurtured it for three full years. Humm ... will anything come of this? I was pleasantly surprised to see many little buds appear in June. What color? How many petals I wondered. One day these buds blossomed into tiny white wild roses! This little bush was truly a gift from God. Something that seemed to come from nowhere. So pleasant to look upon - I am sure these posies in miniature were part of Eden's garden. Here's a photo for you to get a               glimpse of nature's wild and white rose clusters.

Sundrops - Yellow Evening Primrose

God ~ Our Sunlight
Psalm 84:11

June is the perfect month for the four petaled Sundrop - Latin Oenothera - to fully bloom in shade or sun. This hardy perennial is an excellent addition to all types of gardens where a burst of yellow is needed. Also called the Evening Primrose, it is easy care, drought resistant, not fussy with soil types and does not seem to attract pests. This is a perfect fit for Midwest gardens as it holds up to long, harsh winters and gladly welcomes the sunshine in spring. All varieties seem to multiply quickly and can easily be divided then replanted. The name Sundrop was given as the flower seems to open fully while the sun is high in the sky and as the evening begins to settle, the yellow petals will drop and slowly begin to close.

A scriptural reference to the sun is found in Psalm 84:11 "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory ..." Once again something as simple and lovely as the canary colored Sundrop can portray the true Source of earthly Sunlight, our Light from the darkness of sin and that Light which shines in and through our individual life. It is only by His grace and glory that we can enjoy the benefits of his beautiful creation. "Lord thou has been favorable unto thy land" Psalm 85:1.

"Tulip"

"Tulip"

Spring is welcomed by the dazzling colors of tulips. Nearly every serious gardener has a few tulips sprinkled among their spring perennials. There's a sense of comfort and serenity when the tulip blooms are spreading open near a front door or sunny walkway. Although many think the tulip bulb originated in the Netherlands, it actually was imported from Asia -- mainly Turkey and Persia -- in the 16th century. The bulbs became so popular especially in Holland that they were traded for unbelievably high prices; this phenomena is still referred to as the "Tulipmania" of 1637. Today the Dutch tulip bulbs are still in demand, being shipped all across the world. Here's another fact: the bigger the bulb, the larger the bloom. The circumference of the bulb will make a difference in the quality and size of the flowering bloom. The best time to plant these bulbs is in the fall before the first frost, use a little bone meal and dig deep enough to keep the squirrels away.

The word TULIP has another connotation: it is the acronym for what is known as the Five Points of Reformed Doctrine. Simply stated, T = Total Depravity, U = Unconditional Election, L = Limited Atonement, I = Irresistible Grace, P = Perseverance of the Saints. Many believe that this originated with John Calvin (1500s) then was further promoted by the Puritans. However, it is actually traced to the writings of Augustine (350-430). This systematic 5 Point approach teaches that God is Sovereign over the affairs of man based on many Scriptural references to His Grace and Mercy, particularly in matters of eternal salvation. When thinking of the Tulip, I cannot help but whisper a prayer of thanksgiving to our Lord and Savior for preparing a path for His children and assisting them throughout their walk. Though there be rough spots among the shadows; or when the the path is smooth with streaming sunlight, He directs us forward. "Thou shalt walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." Proverbs 3:23,26