Category: Flowers

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 28, Calibrachoa

Cee’s fun challenge, Flower of the Day, is always a great way to share the beauty we see all around the blogging world.

Today, I share various colors of Calibrachoa which look like miniature petunias. They are prolific bloomers and seem to tolerate the side of my house that get sun all day. They even do better than the petunias.

These come in solid and two tomes but most of their centers seem to be yellow.

And they usually always have friends drop by for a taste of their nectar.

I am partial to the two-toned purple. While even the solid purple is beautiful, the two-toned seems to have a little more pop.

The pink this year seems to be the most hardy as this plant is full of blooms.

The pink two-tone have points in their petals making them more graceful.

However the yellow seems to be the happiest. Yellow is such a happy color and this pot is surrounded by sunflowers making it even happier.

As I look back at these flowers, I see that color is not the only difference. They also have different petal shapes from round, to pointed, to indented. It shows the beauty of all things created, even man. We are all different but all beautiful as God does not make junk or mistakes. There is always a divine nature in what he does. So embrace your beauty and reflect the kindness from within.

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 15, Zinnia

I am currently on “vacation” where the intent is really to check on family. My first stop was my youngest and his family. We went to the zoo and while it was great, the entrance was covered in zinnias. They were really beautiful.

I love how Zinnias are actually clusters of tiny flowers surrounded by larger petals.

They seem to smile at you letting you enjoy their beauty.

All living things want to feel the kindness of life that is around them, even flowers. Share their smile with others and watch them smile back. A smile speaks volumes and is an easy way to be kind.

FOTD, June 6, Petunias

Flower of the Day, what a fun challenge each spring and summer. So much color to see. Today I am focusing again on petunias. They are a favorite throughout my yard. I am more partial to the variations of purple, but this year I saw a purplish-red I had not seen before. The picture shows the flowers more pink than red and the purples look more blue. Regardless, they are lovely.

Slow down enough to see the beauty around you. You might see something you never saw before. Enjoy its beauty and share it with others and as always be kind.

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, June 3, Darn Squirrels

Ever year as you start your work in your garden, there is usually a small deterring factor that can make it difficult. It could be a late spring, a freak storm right as the garden starts growing or local pests, insects or other critters.

Mine this year is squirrels. I have not been bothered by them in years past but this year they are a profound pest. Seeds were dug up and eaten, young plants were dug up while looking for seeds and for some reason they had a taste for seed potatoes.

While on one hand, they seem cute…on the other hand ENOUGH ALREADY!!

This year I planted (or trying to plant) a sunflower circle. The center (14′ dia) is mulched where we may put places sit. The outer was planted with various sizes of sunflowers creating a cascade effect in flowers…if the dang squirrels would quit digging up the seeds.

When I went to water this morning, again the young tender plants that were trying to come up were now gone along with evidence of multiple holes where other seeds were planted. FINE! I give up…sort of. I went back to the nursery and bought plants to at least have something to surround the cool circle. Maybe there will be enough seed that make it past these digging brats to at least show the purpose of the circle. Below are pictures of what I will plant tomorrow after church. Various types of yellow daisies, coreopsis, and something with a tiny yellow bloom that had no name tag. They all have the sunny smiles like the sunflower so at least we will have these.

Even when you are faced with digging brats or other situations that test your patience, smile on the inside and be kind. Kindness has a way to make all sour things taste just a little sweeter.

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.