Why

Hello Folks ~ Why? ~ Why I love flowers and gardening. ~ Peace, communion with God my Creator, scents, being around birds, bees, butterflies, great exercise. My dear husband came up with my online name of 'FlowerLady' when we got our first computers around 1999. He said he always knew where to find me, out among the flowers, and it was/is who I am. I'm not a great gardener, no plan, my style is tropical, cottage garden.

There is so much to enjoy in God's creation, all we have to do is slow down, look around, look into, listen, take deep slow breaths. In my last post I mentioned eliminating stress from our lives as much as possible, and it is something I had to do recently. My little part-time job was stressful, not good for me mentally, spiritually or physically. Not that the work was hard, it wasn't, but the stress, which I won't go into, was just becoming too much. The money was a good help to supplement my small ss check, but not worth the stress I was under. So I quit almost 2 weeks ago. God will provide something else. I do still have a little bit of work for someone else and that's a help. I have begun to relax and to put the past behind and am enjoying each day that God blesses me with.

So, this morning I headed out again to work in gardens, this time the front patio area. I was out there for 2 1/2 hours, in the chilly breezes, and it was just wonderful. I didn't get done what I had wanted to do, but I did make forward progress in the area. I recently bought 2 Don Juan climbing roses, the only red climbers I could find that will grow in my zone. HD had them. I want to put these in the front patio area against the white lattice on either side of my lady statue, which I can see from my chair at the computer. I'll see how that will work. I planted them in huge black plastic pots, not pretty but cheap from a local nursery. Pics will be coming soon I hope.

For now, I wanted to share more of 'why' I garden. 'Don Juan', a nice rose scent and beautiful color.

"Hugs-n-kisses' hibiscus late yesterday afternoon, and then again this morning.

Visiting birds as seen from inside, out of the scullery window late yesterday afternoon. They were having a great time and then they were gone.

Windchimes, which have been making sweet music the past few days.

 'Double impatiens' blooms, so pretty and remind me of roses.

This is a beautiful book I saw on Amazon the other day, I ordered it and it is more beautiful in person. It came today and tears came as I read her intro and the first chapter. I took a pic of the cover, then just randomly opened the book for a pic inside, it is below .

Where are heart is, is definitely where our treasure is. In today's world it can be so easy to get caught up in all of the trappings that aren't good for us. I heard a great message Sunday and it was about all of the thoughts we have in a given day, and 'they' have come up with an estimate of around 35,000 a day, on average. What we think on can make or break us. 

In the Passion Translation of the Bible we read some very encouraging words to help us in our daily walk, in Philippians 4:6-8 ~  

"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life,

then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.

So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always."

Take time each day to 'think' about what's important. Think about our Great Creator, who is our Savior, our Friend, who loves each of us deeply and wants a relationship with us. He has promised to never leave us, He is always by our side. Sometimes we just need to be still, to listen for His voice, to contemplate that He is the Great I Am.

Love, hugs and prayers from 'FlowerLady'

Another bit of chilly weather and some flowers to enjoy

Good morning Folks ~ Here it is a little over a month since my last post. I just haven't felt like posting. We are about to have another little bit of chilly weather, in the 40's tonight and tomorrow night. Temps have been in the high 80's and humidity high, so this is another welcome relief and probably our last bit of winter weather.

Here are some photos to enjoy. Roses below.

Other flowers in bloom. Azaleas and jasmine.

 

Golden Dewdrop

 

Keylime blossom

 

Mom-of-millions.

 

'Panama Rose'.

'Tecoma Stans' 

Key lime babies.

 

 Birds visiting in 'secret garden'.

 

 A little project I worked on yesterday, cutting the legs down of this little bench. There are chives, rosemary and an angelwing begonia on the bench.

I'm trying to get a lot done in my gardens before summer's heat and humidity are here to stay. I work outside 2-3 hours in the morning when it's nice out, after that I hibernate. Key lime and meyer lemon potted trees are full of blooms. I have some small tomatoes growing, cherry tomatoes maybe, I grew them from seeds from grocery store toms.

Remember to count your blessings, eliminate stress from your lives as much as possible, and stop to enjoy God's beautiful creation. Learn and grow through experiences, ask God for help and strength, He is always ready and willing to help us.

Spring is coming ~ FlowerLady