Category: Beauty in nature

Mimi’s Lily

This is Mimi, a wonderful protector that I lost in August of 2021. It was her loss that prompted me to write another book – Our Real Home. I am a firm believer in the Rainbow Bridge and that God created animals for us to enjoy here on Earth…and in Heaven. I believe that all the dogs I had throughout my life I will see again in Heaven when I get there. In the back of Our Real Home, I quoted Randy Alcorn from his book called Heaven, page 381, copyright 2004 by Eternal Perspective Ministries. He said…

Adam, Noah, and Jesus are the three heads of the three Earths. When Adam was created, God surrounded him with animals. When Noah was delivered from the flood, God surrounded him with animals. When Jesus was born, God surrounded him with animals. When Jesus establishes the renewed Earth, with renewed men and renewed women, don’t you think he’ll surround himself with renewed animals?

YES, I do. Why else would so many people be interested in working with animals, saving animals, photographing animals…animals matter, not just for food. Their lives matter, their beauty matters…

When I lost Mimi, I had her cremated for two reasons. One, I am just too old to dig large holes and two, I don’t have the large yard I used to have. So, I placed her ashes in a new flowerbed and a friend gave me a bulb to plant where her ashes were placed. This year the bulb bloomed and it is a beautiful lily.

For those that may be visually challenged, the lily’s main color is a light pink, a salmony pink and the inner color is a rich reddish-pink fading to an orange. Then the very center is bright yellow. The petal edges are ruffled and tinged with the same reddish-pink color. The size leans more to the Easter Lily size but the petals are wide. It is truly striking.

Thank you for reading today and helping me one more time honor Mimi. She will always be remembered as a very special dog…well, they are all special. Enjoy your pets and remember to be kind. They understand kindness and one day we will all be kind together.

Always be Kind!

FOTD, June 23, Lily

Last year we had beautiful lilies at the church for Easter. Several of them were left without homes so I brought one to my house, left it out in the yard, forgot to plant it, but my dog took care of that for me when she got to messing around in the area and turned the pot upside down. In the fall cleanup, I notice the pot and remember I was supposed to plant that bulb. So I threw away the pot thinking I missed the opportunity to plant a gorgeous flower. But nature is more resilient that we give her credit.

I did not remember it being this beautiful.

May we always remember we are beautifully created and amazingly loved. Have a great day and shine out your kindness with your beauty.

Healing Peace of Flowers & Greenery

It is a fact that green is a soothing color and gardens bring about peace. Last week I went down to see my brother in Atlanta Ga, and his yard is a garden oasis. I was fortunate to have an experienced guide, Sadie, their dog, who reminded me of its beauty. The walks through his yard helped me relax from the sadness of his illness, knowing there was no cure.

So if you also are facing a hard reality of life, come along with me and Sadie and find a few moments of peace.

This is the backyard standing on the deck looking out. Come follow the stepping stone to quiet greenery.

This bench is very old from the previous owners. It is covered in lichen and adds to the quiet peace – at least in my book. Just past the bench is the gate to the oasis in the back, ending in a screened in tea house or external porch.

Let’s follow Sadie as we head to the back. She has a leash for the purpose of getting her back inside. She doesn’t want to leave it either.

All along the cobblestone paths are benches, chairs, statuary, and an abundance of flowers.

The screened in porch, which I forgot to take a picture of, is surrounded by a miniature gardenia shrub that fills the air with a light delicate scent.

Coming back to the house we see the deck is surrounded by white hydrangeas and caladiums and a cute statue with a tray to feed the birds he stands guard to protect the azaleas, which in the early spring are in full bloom.

Just before going in, you have the bright red bougainvillea and then of course, it’s nap time from a long walk.

I hope you felt the peace of this small oasis and enjoy the walk with Sadie. Remember life is never easy but the beauty God surrounds us with helps us get through it, plus the kindness of family and friends. Always show kindness as it helps you when giving it as much as it helps those needing it.

FOTD, June 4, Begonias

Summer , for those of us in the above the equator, is the time where we watch nature bloom through it various stages and colors. Flower of the Day Challenge gives us the opportunity to share the beauty we see.

Today, I am sharing my begonias. They are just now getting started but already beautiful. There bright red color almost looks unreal.

The doubled begonias look a lot like a small rose.

As you enjoy the beauty of flowers through your summer, regardless of the side of the equator you are on, remember the smile they give you and return that smile to others. It’s one of the easiest ways to show kindness.

FOTD, May 31, Weed?

Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge sometimes asks you to step out of your normal mindset and see what you see. So in stepping out I question…is it a weed?

It has large rich colored leaves. The stems hold small clusters of tiny flowers that sport only four petals but their color is a lovely soft purple. In my world, if it blooms its a flower – for in reality, before flowers were captured by our amazing horticulturist, they were probably weeds too.

So delicately beautiful. I tried to identify them with Google but had no luck. They looked similar to ones I saw in the wildflower collections…aka weeds to some, but still beautiful. I think we can sometimes judge people this same way. If they don’t look like how we are use to people looking, we sometime miss the beauty that is within. The old adage of judging a book by its cover.

As you start your summer, try to see the beauty all around you. Even some beetles are quite colorful – I just don’t want them on me. But everything thing created deserves kindness – close up or at a distance. There is a picture I share off and on as it strikes me hard on the reality of ALL created beings understand kindness and love, providing they feel safe enough to share it with you. I did not take the picture but wish I had seen this first hand. So always be kind and safe and reflect the love that has been given to you.

FOTD, May 27, Peonies

Peonies are a beautiful flower but a pain in the neck bush. So, since this is Flower of the Day, we will focus on the beauty of the flower. The two bushes I have around my house are a light pink color with oversized blooms which fall over due to their weight if it rains or wind blows.

This bloom was so heavy I had to lay it in my young blue spruce tree to hold it up to photograph it. Plus ants love these blooms and once they are picked, the ants scatter.

The bushes at the church are a darker pink and a little smaller bloom allowing them to stand proud on the bush instead of drooping due to their weight. This time of year, if I am not at home, I am at church working in the community garden, hence why these flowers are chosen today. The summer flowers are not blooming yet.

I close in a reminder to always be kind. It is such an easy thing to share and something we all need. Regardless of how good or bad your day has been, kindness shows your inner strength.

FOTD, May 25, Fence line

A couple of years ago, I decided that concrete blocks made the perfect planter for the short grassy area between my fence and the sidewalk. It’s about a three-foot-deep section running the length of the yard. The blocks are spaced about three feet apart allowing for splashes of colors along the fence. Each of the holes in the concrete block are just the right size for a single plant of profusely blooming Superbells, more specifically known as Calibrachoa, and I planted them there again this year. By mid-summer you will not even see the blocks for the flowers will completely cover them and drape toward the ground.

But I wanted to do something different this year between the concrete block to make a full line of color along the fence. So I chose bushy perennials that I would not have to replant each year. I alternated pink and purple Veronica and golden Yarrow between the blocks to add size, texture, and color. I know from research that these plants can be invasive if not kept in check so we will see how it goes. But I think their colors will be interesting against the white lattice fence.

So, summer fun in my yard has officially started, but there’s still lots to plant. As the yard fills with fun and color, I will share the smiles with you. Even though we think plants can’t talk, I beg to differ with you. They speak in a language we can not hear but a language that we see and their language is beautiful. Share their beauty with others and remember to always be kind.

FOTD, May 24, Dianthus

Cee’s FOTD, Flower of the Day Challenge, is always fun this time of year as Mother Nature raises her beautiful floral head. The majority of the community garden is done so I got to play in my yard. Last year I planted several colors of dianthus and their colors this year are just as beautiful. I am planting more perennials this year to help make less work for me next year. I will share those flowers on another day – today is dianthus day.

While the darker pink are a fun variation, each plant has its own expression of the color or extra markings…like being dusted with white.

Some have more white dusting and some have less but show a white center.

Then we get into my favorites, the rich velvety reds.

Then you have the flowers variation that can’t makeup its mine – red with pink edges or white edges…so lets do both.

Regardless of their color, they are amazing perennials. I love that they can tolerate the crazy winters we have – 80 degrees one day and snow the next. Welcome to the Midwest.

Flowers always make us smile, even those of us who can sometimes be a grouch. So look at flowers more often, smile more often and always be kind. A smile is the easiest form of kindness that there is.

FOTD, May 17, Iris

My yellow iris has not opened yet, but my neighbor’s purple iris is filling the corner of their yard. It is quite beautiful.

A close up shot shows its beard and yellow center.

I love the beauty and the hope flowers bring us. Its beauty is self-evident, but the hope it brings, that something this delicate can make us smile. They give us peace knowing God is in control and while there may be chaos, He is holding our hand.

Remember the “warm fuzzies” that the beauty of nature can give you and forward that warmth to others who need that hope of reassurance. And be Kind.

ALWAYS BE KIND