Yellow, Red & Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show

Today's Joy: Dinner Right Out of the Garden.
I am in heaven, Reader. After this morning's amazing church service (a concert of worship music performed by the band Newsong), everyone at Christ Community left in tears and feeling so uplifted! Then I headed over to spend quality time with Mom and later, came home to help Aunt do farm chores. We gathered eggs and fed pigs, cow, chickens and our favorite equine critters. Then, we decided to raid the garden.

Aunt Chef & Uncle's garden is a cacophony of joyful and exuberant growing things. There are bright gladiolas and bachelor buttons mixed in with herbs and broccoli and rows of tomatoes. So many varieties--from wee tiny cherry tomatoes in three colors, to sections of plump, baseball-sized orbs clustered so heavy, they bend the plants to the ground. I oggled and picked them all, piling them in a milk crate to take home. Then the incredible scent of basil drew me over to a whole row of the fragrant herb. I plucked several stems while Aunt dug up potatoes and did some weeding. Nothing like an herb bouquet to awaken the senses!


Gorgeous Potatoes Dug Up This Afternoon.

I had forgotten what a delight it is to be out in the garden picking what you'll eat for supper that same evening. I relished the scent and feel of each warm, fleshy tomato as I twisted it in my hand and felt the stem give way. Later, at home, they all looked so good as I washed them, I had to snap a few shots to share.

Paired with burgers made from our own beef, we enjoyed an entire meal of homegrown deliciousness. What a blessing to have such an abundance! Thank you, Lord, for all that you provide.


Luscious Large Red & Yellow Tomatoes with a Few Heirloom Green Zebras Thrown In.

Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest. ~Douglas William Jerrold, about Australia, A Land of Plenty

Quotes courtesy of The Quote Garden.

Passion Flower Vine on Bird Trellis

Today's Joy: Horticultural Housekeeping.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day off, Reader. After spending a leisurely morning sipping cappuccino and getting caught up with online stuff, I got out my trowel and repotted the last of my new plants. The gorgeous double-ruffled apricot hibiscus tree (a gift from Aunt) is in full bloom (see below) and looks very smart in its new pot. And my much talked-about passion flower, which has finally finished blooming, also has new digs. When I went to unwind its vines from the small bamboo trellis, I found they were already long enough to cover the new, larger trellis I planned to use. Now it looks twice the size it did.

I also fussed a bit with my Boot Garden and circled the house to snap shots of everything newly-opened. It still amazes me how much things change week to week and sometimes even day to day. Below, for your enjoyment, dear Reader, are the best of the shots I took today.

Boot Garden Reloaded

(New additions include Curly Wurly (pink pot on left) & Lime Bicolor Petunias (yellow pot on right.)

Apricot Double-ruffled Hibiscus Blossom

Freshly Potted

Apricot Double-ruffled Hibiscus

Iron Trellis

From the Top

Begonia Basket

Stackable Mini Herb Garden

(Little green shoots on lowest level are baby Basil plants.)

Lily

Herb Garden

Lilies Just Open

Herb Garden

Lily

Passion Flower Repotted

(After unraveling the vines & affixing them to a larger trellis, the plant seemed to double in size.)

Purple Passion Flower


Today's Joy: Blessings in the Garden.
As I was tootling around outside this morning, watering flowers with my flying pig watering can, I had an epiphany, Reader. It occurred to me that not only was this an absolutely lovely summer for the garden, with plenty of rain, sun and prime growing conditions, but also that God has fulfilled every single plant fantasy we've had this year. Seems like everything about which we've wistfully said, Gee, it would be really nice to have one of these or someday we'll have to try growing that has come true. And nearly all have been a great bargain.


Gerbera Daisy

While taking stock of the myriad of exotic and interesting plant species we have acquired this season, I realized that all my favorite flowers are present. Outside, there are double-ruffled petunias (in two colors), a little pot of fiber optic grass, another of that wonderful Curly Wurly stuff (which just makes me smile), several gorgeous shades of gerbera daisies, a vibrant bunch of celosia, some of that bright green steppable Scottish moss, a big hanging basket full of begonias, a passion flower plant, a lovely new hibiscus tree Aunt found on sale (with unique, double-ruffled apricot flowers) as well as several varieties of yummy herbs.


Paphiopedilum (Lady's Slipper) Orchid


Inside, we currently have four phalaenopsis orchids in bloom in addition to my little paph. hybrid (pictured above), whose flower has been open since May. Seems like everywhere I look, there's something wonderful blossoming.



Foxtail


Have also really enjoyed watching the garden evolve thru the season. The daffodils and grape hyacinth were adorable this spring. According to Aunt, the magnolias put on their best show in years. At their peak, the delphiniums put out breathtaking, five foot-tall flower stalks absolutely jammed with bright blue and purple blossoms. And now the foxtails, lilies and hydrangea are taking center stage. It's just delightful to step outside and inhale the scent of chamomile, dill & oregano in the herb garden or see the bumbles and gold finches landing lazily on flowers or euonymus in the back yard. Kind of like paradise.


Boot Garden

Thank you, Lord, for this gorgeous garden and glorious growing season. We are ever mindful, as we plant, tend, weed and harvest, what a blessing these living things are. May the joy they bring be contagious and spill over into the lives of our friends & neighbors. Amen.


Delphinium

Begonia

Passion Flower with Blossom Open

Gerber Daisy

Today's Joy: Height of the Growing Season.
It's hot today, Reader. You can feel it in the air when you step outside--that heavy, wall of humidity. We're about to hit the dog days of summer. So, before it gets so hot I can't stand myself, I'm taking a good look around at the lush, summer landscape. The evenings are still cool. The Japanese beetles have yet to emerge from the ground to devour our roses. The grass is still vivid, emerald green.

Hard to believe spring is already over and this past week marked the longest days of the year. It's all shorter from here! But that's okay too. Just part of the life cycle. Season to season, we ebb and flow and move with the rhythm of the earth as our little planet circles the sun. Such a precious gift, life. To be blessed enough to live in the safest country in the world, with the best medical care and opportunities available, and where we are free to make our own choices and live as we wish is simply amazing. The odds of that happening randomly are staggering. Just something to keep in mind when you're feeling a little mistreated by life.

Here are a few lush summer photos I took in the garden this afternoon. Doesn't God do good work?


Bunny Ballerina Planter


Foxtail

Pink Gerber Daisies

Bunny's Boyfriend

More Foxtails

Coral Rose.

The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. ~George Bernard Shaw

Today's Joy: The Garden, Revisited.

Whew! After a wonderful but crazy-busy weekend, it's so nice to be able to relax again. I popped out to see the garden after working a very early shift this morning, Reader. It was like visiting a new and gorgeous oasis. I can't stop marveling over the changes that take place in nature and Creation, right under our noses. Today, the delphiniums are in full, fabulous bloom around the house and the roses are wide open to the world, having burst into their full glory sometime over the weekend.

There's both pride and humility in watching a garden evolve through the season. When your plants bloom right on cue, treating the neighbors to a show-stopping display, your head can't help but swell a little. However, it quickly deflates when you realize, after a few days away, that the garden does just fine without you, thank you very much. Just a reminder that you may be the founder of this little growing enterprise, but your plants are busy staging a benign takeover.

Enjoy your afternoon, Reader. Hope your Tuesday is full of unfurling joy.

Aunt's Herb Garden.


It pleases me to take amateur photographs of my garden, and it pleases my garden to make my photographs look professional. ~ Robert Brault



Chamomile & Irises in Herb Garden.


I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~ F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace


God Is In The Details, Delphinium, June, 2010.

Delphiniums, June 1st, 2010.

Gerbera Daisies in Galoshes.

Tortoise Under the Birdbath.

Gardens are a form of autobiography. ~ Sydney Eddison, Horticulture magazine, August/September 1993

Garden Quotes courtesy of The Quote Garden.

Sedona Rose

“I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you the clear remembrance of the Creator. …One blade of grass or one speck of dust is enough to occupy your entire mind in beholding the art with which it has been made." ~ St. Basil the Great (329-379)


Today's Joy: The Amazing Variety in God's Creation.
While going thru the photos I took when Mom & I were out exploring area garden centers this past weekend, I found a bunch I wanted to share with you, Reader. These were taken at either The Planter's Palette in Winfield, IL or at Heinz Bros. Greenhouse in St. Charles.

There are some real beauties and an incredible variety of shapes, textures and hues. We had such a wonderful time marveling over plants and clever landscaping. Looking at the images I captured with my camera, I feel blessed to be surrounded by such beauty. It also reminds me that our trivial, human attempts at dabbling in hybridization don't even begin to scratch the surface of what God is capable of creating. A sobering thought.

“Love all of God's creation, the whole of it and every grain of sand. Love every leaf, every ray of God's light! Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will soon perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.” ~ Fydor Doestoyevski (1821-1881)

Of course, Doestoyevski is right. In the end, it's all about love anyway. God's love for us. God's love for Creation. God's wish for us to love each other as He loves us. That love includes stewardship of all the amazing, breathing beings around us. Two-legged, four-legged, six or eight-legged, even millipedes! And those beings that have no legs at all.

All are part of that great something we all long to touch. Funny, isn't it, how we spend our lives searching for the one thing that will fulfill us, only to find out we had it within us all the time. Actually, we're made of it. How's that for tangible love?

“Earth is crammed with heaven
And every bush aflame with God
But only those who see take off their shoes.”
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning


If Chunk Were Made Of Stone...


Mom surrounded by hanging baskets, The Planter's Palette


Fairy Garden in Wheelbarrow, The Planter's Palette



Ornamental Kale (?)

Gerbera Daisy

Rose

Love & Peace Rose

Sedona Rose

Rose

Rose

Marigolds

Ornamental Onion

Perennial Cornflower

Peony

A swirly whats-it that caught my eye...

The Planter's Palette

Red Velvet Rose, Heinz Bros. Greenhouse

Rose

Rose, Heinz Bros. Greenhouse

Rose

Rose

Poppy, Heinz Bros. Greenhouse

Columbine

Cherub

Creation Quotes courtesy of Climbing For Christ.