Posts Tagged ‘Trees’
May 09
There is no place like home
This is absolutely my favorite time of year. I love being at home and watching nature unfold in our own yard. We have purposed over the last few years to add more trees, shrubs, and plants to our little 1-acre lot . So, the trees coming back to life, the lilacs and honeysuckle in bloom, the crabapple trees in full color, the vegetable garden getting planted, the bluebirds nesting in our yard, and the hummingbirds back at the window feeder are all reminders of life—and life more abundantly.
Daily, my wife and I walk around the yard to check up on all of our babies. How are our little trees doing this year? How about the small spruce trees? Is that winter burn or is that tree not doing so well? How are the baby bluebirds doing? It looks like the strawberries are being formed. You get the picture. Through it all, I see more and more detail of those things and I would know if something happened to any one of them. Also, I see God through it all.
I was watching the silver maples shed their load of seeds the other day. I have seen this many times before, but I was mesmerized by the whole thing. The seeds are transported by what looks like a helicopter wing. The wind was blowing fairly strong and some of the seeds were getting carried a hundred yards away from the tree. Ingenious! The seeds go far, but not too far.
There is no way that the design of those seeds could possibly happen by chance. It was designed, from the beginning, to do what it does. It is a tree, it does not think, it just does what it was designed to do.
There is only one explanation—a designer. The only possible designer is God.
I see this all over the place through the nature in our yard. I see examples of His handiwork everywhere. The more I slow down and watch, the more evident it becomes. I did not need to travel to the Pyramids or Hawaii to find Him. I have found a level of happiness and satisfaction by finding God in my own backyard. I hope you too can find Him in the most usual of places.
May 09
I have had enough
I was mowing the lawn tonight, which I love to do, and I noticed a little louder than usual sound coming from the mower. At a convenient point, I stopped and did a little motor inspection. I had a cracked muffler, and a big crack at that. It was sounding like the muffler was not even attached. I took off my ear protection and yikes, it was loud.
Yesterday, as I was walking around the yard, I noticed one of my trees, a 7-footer, looked a little peaked. The buds had formed, the leaves we out about an inch, but then nothing. All of the other crimson maples were fully leafed out. Had it died?
Earlier this week, some other tree and shrub issues came to light. I had a mature burning bush, a couple of arrowood viburnum, a couple of small river birch, and a four-year old bur oak that died. I have never had that kind of winter kill before.
A few years back, I remember believing that everything I planted would not only survive, but thrive. I made that confession over them all. I had not doubt that they would do just that. And they have. The last couple of years, I planted more trees and shrubs, but did not make the same confession.
Why didn’t I do the same for those? I failed in a very basic principle. Do not forget the Lord. When things are going well, you tend to drift from the those things that bring blessings into your life. You put a little less effort into it, and start taking things for granted. Hey, things are going well, I don’t need anything else.
Tell me, when you are working and things are going great, aren’t you proud of yourself? Look at what I did! Anyone else need my help? I have all the answers! You get all nice and puffed up, just prime pickings for the big burst.
So, that’s it! I am done yo-yo-ing with those things of the Lord. I will be more purposeful to give thanks to Him in ALL things. I know the blessings I have are from Him. I know I would not be where I am today without Him. I purpose to give Him the glory and honor in everything I do. Amen.
May 09
Dandelions, the king of weeds
I was out mowing the lawn tonight for the fourth time this year. I thought I do a pretty good job of keeping the lawn looking nice, but then I noticed them. What were they? The enemies of the lawn. Weeds! Dandelions, creeping charlie, and clover.
Well what the heck! You want the grass, trees, and shrubs to grow and thrive, so you treat them nice, water them, fertilize them, and give them a regular hair cut and trim. Some parts of the lawn do well, some not so much. Some trees and shrubs are doing well, some are dying.
But those weeds. You attack them, pull them out, put weed killer on them, and generally try to choke them out… and they still thrive! So with all the disparaging treatment, why do the weeds seem to multiply? There is more weeds this year than last. Then, in mid-summer and into the fall, I start forgetting about them. The blooms die and they start blending into the lawn. Out of sight, out of mind.
It reminds me of those little issues I am trying to take care of in my life. Being a better husband and father, getting into the Word more, and finishing those open items that continue to gnaw at me. The "biggies" have been dealt with, but those pesky little ones are tough to completely eliminate. Sometimes they pop-up, flower, become apparent to everyone, bloom, and then drop seeds all over the place. Then as time goes by, they just blend in with the rest of my life. Then again, they pop-up again, worse than before.
If I was persistent in taking care of them, they would not become the nuisance that they are. It’s not a once-a-spring chore, it is regular effort throughout the season that gets results. I purpose to become a regular weed puller in all areas of my life on a more consistent basis. Not through guilt, but because I want to exhibit the love that He has shown me.
Apr 09
Backyard Therapy
Now I don’t know about you, but this time of year for me brings renewed hope and excitement as I am finally unlocked from winter’s grip and I am able to get outside. The outdoor season started a little earlier this year because we ventured into syrup making in mid March. This weekend, the weather got into the mid 50′s and the March winds had finally subsided. It was also busy; the Masters was played (a sure sign of Spring), we had commitments on Saturday and Easter was Sunday. Hope and promises were on display all around us in the midst of it all.
Earlier in the week, I picked up seed potatoes for the garden. Now last year, when I got ready to get plant the garden, I waited too long and the seed potatoes were all gone. They sell faster than anything else because they can be put into the ground as soon as the frost is out. Also, the year before, we went on a trip out west and came back to a garden that was lost to the weeds. So, needless to say, I was a little stoked about getting the best of the potatoes, earlier than usual.
I tilled the garden on Friday and I am thinking I can get some cold weather plants in a little early (lettuce, carrots and potatoes). I hacked the raspberry bushes to within a foot of the ground. The trees I trimmed this winter were still on the ground, so I brought those to the composting place. Is everything ready to go? No, but I can feel it. I can see the grass turning from brown to a light green. I can see the buds on the trees plump and full, ready to burst open.
We typically do not take a vacation in the winter so this time of year is especially gratifying. I absolutely love it. In the upcoming weeks we will be moving some shrubs, planting some trees, vegetable garden, and our annual garden, rearranging and expanding our perennial garden, and enjoying every minute of being that much closer to God in the process. We still have a lot of “work” to do, but I cannot wait to get my hands dirty.
With all the changes happening in our lives and the technology world that I live in, this is the best and most satisfying thing that Spring brings. It is theripudic to my soul. This spring, may you also find the time to get your hands dirty and breath in the rich smell of the earth as you plant your own garden.
Mar 09
In the smallest things . . .
This weekend we put the finishing touch on making our own syrup from the maple trees in our yard. We were inspired after reading an article in the Minnesota Volunteer magazine. We have thoroughly enjoyed having a vegetable garden, apple trees, pear trees, raspberry and strawberry patches, bluebird houses, and flower gardens every year, so this sounded like a nice addition to everything else we do in the yard.
What I am Reading
