It's hard to believe the garden - it's in crazy bloom and grow mode. It's not even Memorial Day week end and I've already been out planting and trimming. This has to be a record. What will I do all week end? (smile)
You can see photos here.
And no, there are no photos of the powdery mildew nor the bush with a bad haircut...
5.25.2010
5.24.2010
Powdery Mildew
Wow it's hot out there.
But I still had to go out to the garden and try to save my favorite swaying bushes just outside our living room window. They had patches of white powdery mildew and it was spreading. So, I googled it (of course) and came up with a baking soda, dishsoap and water concoction to spray on AFTER removing all affected leaves.
I cut away limbs. I cut away individual leaves. I cut away flower buds. Cut cut cut. I was rather ruthless because I *really* like this plant. And then I sprayed and sprayed and sprayed, likely overdoing it but wanting to protect the healthy foliage.
And of course it got me thinking.
I'm being pruned right now. Is it because God loves me so much?
Even some tender new shoots of my life are being snipped away - areas I thought might bloom soon. Hmmm.
He's really going at it - snips are coming in all directions. Marriage is hard. Parenting one child is so full of tough love right now - it's agonizing. A "friend's" words were repeated to me - complaining/maligning that was done in a CHURCH setting which makes it even more painful. Work is so busy. School coursework is piled on in this abbreviated summer time frame. And then there's garden ailments on top of it all!
Where does a gal go to resign? I could make a good hermit right about now.
Pruning is needed. Some self pruning is usually a good option as well. Where can I relieve some pressure? What mildew have I accumulated? What do I need to cut out of my life? (a continual revelation as God wants more and more of me) God's pruning is not self directed, but if I deal with sin issues, He won't have to.
I need to remember what I learned in the garden this morning: I was not hacking away at the bush to hurt it. I was cutting deep because I want to save it. I want it to be healthy. I don't want it to infect nearby plants. Believe me, it was difficult to prune away flower buds, but it had to be done. I had to cut away for the long term health rather than the short term beauty. And then I had to apply the cleansing and protecting coat of baking soda, water and dish soap.
In my life the best healing application is the cleansing and protecting Word of God. I need to keep applying it...bathing in it...even with my freshly pruned limbs. It will sting, and it might wither some parts of me that need destroying. But I'd rather overdo it than not apply enough.
And above all, I need to remember that my Master Gardener knows what He's doing in order to produce the best possible fruit in me at just the right season. In most of these situations I don't have big changes to make, but I need to lean in and TRUST that He knows what He's shaping in me.
Jesus said, "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ... When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father." (from John 15:1-8 NLT)
Please allow my pruning to bring You glory, Father. Amen.
But I still had to go out to the garden and try to save my favorite swaying bushes just outside our living room window. They had patches of white powdery mildew and it was spreading. So, I googled it (of course) and came up with a baking soda, dishsoap and water concoction to spray on AFTER removing all affected leaves.
I cut away limbs. I cut away individual leaves. I cut away flower buds. Cut cut cut. I was rather ruthless because I *really* like this plant. And then I sprayed and sprayed and sprayed, likely overdoing it but wanting to protect the healthy foliage.
And of course it got me thinking.
I'm being pruned right now. Is it because God loves me so much?
Even some tender new shoots of my life are being snipped away - areas I thought might bloom soon. Hmmm.
He's really going at it - snips are coming in all directions. Marriage is hard. Parenting one child is so full of tough love right now - it's agonizing. A "friend's" words were repeated to me - complaining/maligning that was done in a CHURCH setting which makes it even more painful. Work is so busy. School coursework is piled on in this abbreviated summer time frame. And then there's garden ailments on top of it all!
Where does a gal go to resign? I could make a good hermit right about now.
Pruning is needed. Some self pruning is usually a good option as well. Where can I relieve some pressure? What mildew have I accumulated? What do I need to cut out of my life? (a continual revelation as God wants more and more of me) God's pruning is not self directed, but if I deal with sin issues, He won't have to.
I need to remember what I learned in the garden this morning: I was not hacking away at the bush to hurt it. I was cutting deep because I want to save it. I want it to be healthy. I don't want it to infect nearby plants. Believe me, it was difficult to prune away flower buds, but it had to be done. I had to cut away for the long term health rather than the short term beauty. And then I had to apply the cleansing and protecting coat of baking soda, water and dish soap.
In my life the best healing application is the cleansing and protecting Word of God. I need to keep applying it...bathing in it...even with my freshly pruned limbs. It will sting, and it might wither some parts of me that need destroying. But I'd rather overdo it than not apply enough.
And above all, I need to remember that my Master Gardener knows what He's doing in order to produce the best possible fruit in me at just the right season. In most of these situations I don't have big changes to make, but I need to lean in and TRUST that He knows what He's shaping in me.
Jesus said, "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ... When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father." (from John 15:1-8 NLT)
Please allow my pruning to bring You glory, Father. Amen.
5.16.2010
Back in the swing
Bonjour! We've been back from Paris for a week and a half, but I'm still barely awake at ten pm. I think I wore myself out! What a fabulous city - I am officially a Francophile. I want to live in Paris.
I just had my hot chocolate. Each night I make myself a cup of hot milk, and add splenda and ghiradeli cocoa...quite sublime. It's a wee taste of Paris to savor here in Greendale.
A new class is begun, work is busy, Anna just had prom, Frank was in Toronto, the garden needs tending...back to life in full swing. I am surrounded by piles that need my attention.
But my heart...tis still in Paris. I'm not quite all back yet. And not sure that I want to be.
Bon soir, gjr.
I just had my hot chocolate. Each night I make myself a cup of hot milk, and add splenda and ghiradeli cocoa...quite sublime. It's a wee taste of Paris to savor here in Greendale.
A new class is begun, work is busy, Anna just had prom, Frank was in Toronto, the garden needs tending...back to life in full swing. I am surrounded by piles that need my attention.
But my heart...tis still in Paris. I'm not quite all back yet. And not sure that I want to be.
Bon soir, gjr.
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