Lilies

I have always been a fan of lilies, but over the past several years, I have added more varieties to my yard. My favorite is the Easter Lily. Its delicate, yet hardy trumpet bloom, and its intense, sweet fragrance make you understand why it is a favorite at Easter. They symbolize hope, purity, and new beginnings. A prevalent theme for the season.

We have them each year at church at Easter, where members purchase them in honor of a loved one. But many don’t want to take them home, so I plant the extras around the church and bring a couple home. This particular plant has 2 stalks and currently has 12 blooms.

This next lily was also from the church at Easter, but it was an error because it is not an Easter Lily. It is an LA Hybrid. I had to look it up. When the blooms opened, they were orange. I thought it was beautiful, so I brought it home to my yard. This year, it produced two stems, each with about 6 flowers. It is becoming a favorite.

The LA Hybrid is a cross between an Asiatic and Longiflorum Lily. It doesn’t have much fragrance, but its colors are amazing.

An early spring favorite is the Asiatic Lily. And I didn’t plant it; the birds did, three years ago. And that one single plant has more than doubled in size and beauty. They are a small, non-fragrant bloom, but the soft yellow color gives a gentleness to that side of the yard.

Below is another gift from the birds, and, given its size and lack of fragrance, I believe it is also an Asiatic Lily, but I could be wrong. Regardless, it’s pretty.

Another fun lily is my Ruffled Lily. It was a gift and different from any of my other lilies. Its bloom is slightly larger, with a faint fragrance, and its petals are ruffled. Compared to the others, its colors are muted.

Last but not least is my Oriental Lily. Due to the crazy weather we have had this spring and early summer, they are not awake yet. Their color is orange with thin red stripes.

I hope you are enjoying your spring as I am enjoying mine. Remember to share the beauty of kindness in all that you do. You may be that one spark of hope someone needs.

My Quiet Space

I think all of us have a personal place where we can relax and unwind. Now that I am retired, there is not much stress, but still, I like a place to relax and reflect on the day. My front-yard swing is just such a place for me, in the mornings and evenings. It is my little garden of color, fun, and enjoyment of nature.

These were taken this morning as I enjoyed my hot cider and listened to the birds waking up, the neighbors starting their yard work, and the occasional bark from Daisy as someone dared walk down HER sidewalk – her self-imposed guard duty.

I invite fellow flower enthusiasts to come along and enjoy my morning stroll through the colors in my yard. Below are the flowers you can’t see well because of the sunflowers’ takeover.

Below are the random shots I took of this morning’s color. I hope you enjoy.

The flowers above are meant to attract hummingbirds. I think they prefer the feeder more.

Here, the sunflowers are taking second stage, as the bees are enjoying them, and then hiding under one sunflower is a determined daisy pushing through.

Calibrachoa are a favorite for their delicate blooms and wide variety of colors.

Another summer favorite from childhood is lantana. It grew wild on my grandparents’ farm.

I normally don’t buy a pot already filled with various plants, but the colors of this one caught my eye. It is filled with various colors of pink, but a red-tinted leafy plant. Don’t have a name for it, sorry, but it’s interesting.

Always remember, the beauty of nature is something God wants to share with us. Think of the walks He had with Adam and Eve through the Garden of Eden. He still wants to share that beauty with us. So, enjoy. And remember to be kind. Kindness can open doors long thought locked.

Fall Pajamas

Don’t you just love it when the weather turns cool and you snuggle up with fuzzy socks to watch TV or read a good book? It’s a favorite time of year for me for several reasons but one of the short-term experiences is the pajamas of fall.

Not these types of fall pajamas but nature’s fall pajamas, a beauty that makes us smile. As the sun gets fewer hours to shine, and the temps begin to drop, fall puts on her favorite pajamas as she gets ready for winter’s nap.

The colors range from various shades of red, yellow, and gold and even the brown had a sheen to it.

As I came home today from Bible study, I took a meandering trip through the neighborhoods and thought I would share what I saw with you. These are with my phone camera but still, I think you can enjoy the color. Many of the trees in North Carolina did not get to wear their color this year due to the hurricane that devasted the area. So, I share some of the colors of the Midwest with you. Hope they bring a smile.

God gives us gifts in nature for each season to remind us that he is always there and that he wants to share the beauty he enjoys. So enjoy the fall pajamas in your area and always be kind.

A New Day

As we start this new day and this new week, lets us enjoy the beauty of it. Not only in what we see but with all of our senses. Below is another snippet from Smiles from Heaven, hope you enjoy.

A New Day

The early dawn broke quietly across the meadow. Dew was heavily laden bending the leaves downward toward the ground. As the sun crested the horizon, the flower faces turned towards it. They soaked in its warmth causing the dew to slip from the leaves. When it splashed to the ground, the sound awakened the sleeping chipmunks to another day of fun adventure. The first one poked his head out to see the beauty of a bright blue sky with the sun skipping through the branches creating patterns of shadow on the ground.

By the time the second chipmunk came to the surface, the birds were starting their symphony of song awakening anything else that was not yet awake.

They all knew that each new day was a gift from God allowing all of creation a brand-new start, a new chance to share kindness, a new hope that all is well. And a reminder that God’s love is always there.

May you have a beautiful new day surrounded with gentleness, love, and kindness. Share your kindness to make it even more beautiful.

Always Be Kind…to all kinds.

FOTD, July 31, & Encouragement

Cee creates an amazing challenge using flowers with her FOTD post and many of us join in on the fun. This evening, I want to stretch that challenge with encouragement from a weed.

Due to the excessive heat we have had this summer, I have not been able to work much in my yard the last few weeks, and as usual, the weeds have taken over. But Friday I started the weed whacker and took care of business. One weed I left as it was covered in interesting looking buds and today they are opening.

You can see from my thumb how very tiny this cluster of flowers is. I took out my camera with the macro lens and got a closer shot to show you the intricacies.

Here you can see the super tiny flowers bunched together to make the cluster of color.

What I want everyone who reads this to really see and understand is that each of us is just this beautiful, just this intricate, and just this much loved as we were created. If God goes to the trouble to do this for a tiny flower, even an unwanted weed type flower, think of how much more precious you are to God when he created you in His image. So don’t let anyone tell you that you are not loved, that you are not special, or that you are not needed. Because God never makes junk, He always makes a masterpiece.

So smile knowing you are special and remember to smile and be kind to others who may not realize how special they are.

FOTD, July 26, The Peace Garden

At our church, we have several small gardens that surround the building and are taken care of by certain individuals, families, or certain classes. The Peace Garden has been the focus of one of our families that work in it at different times of the year to prune, mulch, plant and of course to enjoy. It is located on the corner by the driveway to the parking lot so it gets seen by many people – even those who do not come to our church.

The lilies in this garden are extraordinary. This crazy triple digit heat does not seem to bother them. This first one is kind of a peachy orange with a pink blush in the center of the petals and a bright yellow center. I love the ruffled edges.

The other lily in the garden is a bold maroon red with a bright yellow center.

Here we have three blooms on one stalk. Beautiful.

On the backside of this garden are happy yellow cone flowers.

There are brick walkways that wind through this small garden to help those who enjoy gardens, a way to relax and enjoy its beauty while feeling its peace.

For many, flowers and gardens have a way to reach down inside of us to help us relax and enjoy the beauty God intended. So, I remind you to enjoy the beauty around you and to always be kind. Being kind has a beauty all on its own.

FOTD, July 18, Lily

I love surprises. Especially flower surprises that just show up from a random bird dropping of seed. This is a flower bed doomed for destruction and restructuring so I have not really done much with it this year but now I had a bulb that will need saving and replanting.

I had one similar last year in my front yard but it did not come back this year. Maybe it moved to the back where it gets more sun.

Both blooms are exquisite with ruffled edges, bright yellow centers, and a pinkish color to the petals. Join in with Cee’s Flower of the day and share the beauty you see.

And as always, remember to be kind. The beauty of kindness is more important that the beauty of any flower.

Always Be Kind!

Words of Hope

All people everywhere have some tangible evidence that they hold onto which guides them to the intangible belief of their hope. For Christains, it is God’s Holy Word – the Bible. Then there are song that are in the bible, the Psalms, and song written about the stories of the bible, that help us stay true the the truths written in this ancient manuscript.

One of my all time favorite artists of Christian music is Michael W. Smith and he sand a song about this magnificent manuscript called Ancient Words. Here are some of the words that show the heart of the song.

Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world
They resound with God’s own heart
Words of life, words of hope
Give us strength, help us cope
Ancient words will guide us home

Ancient words, ever true
Changing me and changing you
Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ

This song is on YouTube, if you would like to hear it. My goal for this post is to share the knowledge of how very much you are loved. For Jesus did not come to condemn but to love, and to bring us all to the place where we share in the beauty He has to offer.

May you all have a blessed weekend and are fully aware of the beauty and love that surrounds you. And as always, be kind. Kindness has the power to change the worse day into something sweet.

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.

The Calm…and Beauty After the Storm

Storms usually always clear to beautiful skies once they pass…whether the storms are of nature or a storm your life may be going through.

Today we had a series of storm fronts go through our area creating hail damage, wind damage and several tornadoes. The extent of the damage is still being assessed and unfortunately the storm front is still marching east creating havoc as it goes. But for now some of us have peace and the sky is magical as the clouds thin out and the setting sun creates colors that make us smile.

The clouds twisted as they moved across the sky and their colors changed as the sun slowly sets creating a picture of peace and beauty. Even the red bird sang from the top of the tree announcing to everyone who would listen that all is well, the storm has passed.

He sings a message we should all hear and take to heart as we deal with the many storms we deal with in life. God always has us in his hand…always. It’s just hard to visualize His beauty when we see so much negative destruction around us, but I implore you to try. For every step forward that you may make, a new bright light will find its way to your heart.

Allow it in and allow it to shine brightly. Even though it may seem like a setting sun at times, its warmth can give you new life. Embrace it and share its beauty with others. You may just make their day and help them to smile.

And I remind you always of the beauty of kindness. Kindness opens doors that some may think could not open, so always share the power of kindness and watch it work its beauty.