My little patch of garden at our home will never make it to the "Garden and Home" magazine or some neighborhood garden competition. If you are a gardener you might look at the mish-mash of oddly placed plants and rocks in my yard and not think much of it. Yes I agree there is not much that meets the eye.
Now you know, I'm not really much of a gardener. I wish I had more skill and information on knowing where each plant should come according to its size, type and need for sunlight. I have a very kind, gracious neighbor though that knows about plants and loves to bless me with seeds and little plant starters. Shamefully I have to admit many of these seeds never see the light in my garden or even flourished growing.
But my little patch of odd plants are a sure joy to me. Even the well weathered wooden chair my dear friend found at the local neighborhood dumpster adds to the beauty and pleasure. What a kick to observe each plant go through the different seasons. From summer bloom to winter hiding. As I sit in, yes in and not on my dumpster chair in the quiet bliss of the moment admiring each little plant over a well deserved cup of coffee. Now that is the full joy of having a garden.
It's autumn here now, and that means the end of summer. I have always understood that fruit trees blossom in Spring to carry their fruit in summer. No not the kumkwat tree I have discovered. At first I felt sorry for this beautiful tree and thought global warming must have gotten the better of it. But no its the way it lives. How beautiful it stands now in middle Autumn with its evergreen leaves and white blossoms drawing bees to come and drink nectar. Its little white petals covering the ground like convetti.
My banana trees are my children in the garden. After many months of looking for banana planters we found a pot with four little plants at a plant stall next to the road one day coming home from holiday. I think wanting them in the garden is my heart longing for Africa but being established in Asia. With patience and tender care they were planted. I watched them stay green hoping to see new leaves emerging. Then last winter they froze down to the ground.
Sadly I took the dead leaves off, hoping that they will come out next Spring. And they did. When Spring came the green shoots pushed through the gray gravel except on plant did not make it.
I love the smell, color and appearance of lavender bushes. No, its not a tree, just a bush, wild but beautiful. I use to have quite a few of them that I hauled all the way from the plant seller in the bazaar. They just did not flourish, maybe the soil was not right or not a good place for them. Brushing past them and picking up their scent warms my heart.
Now the lemon tree is my pride and joy. I keep an eye on it all summer to see the first blossoms shining and then forming the little lemon bud. Last winter we had almost no lemons because the kids blessed mommy with a bunch of lemon blossom flowers. I say no more. Now in autumn the lemons are still green but here and there the beautiful yellow treats are hanging heavy on the branches. I love to watch the yellow lemons in middle winter through my lounge window, my winter flowers.
Now my lack of knowledge of plants comes to a total hight with my ignorant name for it "the green bushes", standing on both sides of the garden gate. All summer they grow wild with their long soft branches like arms swinging and growing wildly. Most of my gardening involves chopping away impatiently at these long jumpy reeds with little leaves. Oh but when autumn comes it breaks out in these very happy sunny faced yellow flowers. All then through this cold season it shines. In my flowerless garden and home then this bush hangs out lavishly in a glass vask with its arms hanging low onto the tablecloth.
These are my plant encouragers throughout Autumn and Winter. How we all need a place where we can stop, sit and enjoy the beauty of Creation. As God has made each plant with its own expression of beauty and embracing of each season, so we need to blossom where we are planted. Do not underestimate the beauty you have that others see and appreciate. Even the tiniest considered insignificant plant humbly shines forth beauty.....
