Something new every morning

The transformation in my garden over the last week has been amazing.  We're at that stage of Spring when every morning brings some new bud or bloom or bright green shoot peeking out from the leaves.  The Chestnut Oak has begun to toss its tassels everywhere, on top of the yellow layer of pine pollen, 

but it's a small price to pay for all of this new life.

We spent the weekend away from the garden, at the family lake house where I spent a lot of 

time watching the bluebirds from the porch.

 

The ducks made an appearance, too.

And the sunset was amazing.

When we arrived home, the bees were visiting the crabapple blooms

and the columbine was budding.

This morning, I was greeted with a beautiful bloom and the sight of many more buds.  The columbine is one of the first plants that I started from seed, and it gives me extra joy to see them bloom.

The penstemon is standing tall and budding while the thyme is covered in tiny white blooms.

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Hosta is poking out of the ground in some spots and well on its way above ground in others.

So much to enjoy now, and so much to look forward to (with my new gardening companion by my side)!!

Words on being wordless

I often post a picture with no words for Wordless Wednesday, 

a "linky party" of images that need no words.  

It might be a picture like this one of a bluebird perched in a tree in my garden. 

He speaks of happiness and Spring and hope.

Or this one of the dandelion in my garden this morning, reminding me of 

childhood days, blowing dandelion puffs and making wishes.

Or this one of rose buds, shedding tears of morning dew -  

mixing messages of beauty, joy, and sorrow.

I might post this photo of the Adirondack chairs in their new location, calling to me to sit 

with a cool drink while I watch the birds at the feeders.

Or the photo of the pentstemon dancing by the birdbath, suggesting I join them in

stretching out my arms and twirling through the grass.

But there are times when I am wordless, not because no words are 

necessary but because I am bereft of them.

There are times when I am hungry for words and have none.  

When I long to speak my heart but don't know how.  

God, there are moments when we do not know what to say, so we come to just sit with you. 

Stay with us and hold us close. Amen.

A prayer by Michele Thomas-Bush from the Myers Park Presbyterian Church (Charlotte, NC) 

daily devotional   

April 11, 2011