Planting By The River

Planting is on my mind a lot these days as I revisit my garden, start seedlings and cut back herbs and plants. Last year I decided to surround my garden with herbs that we could use all summer. Since cinderblock walls hold up the garden – they are none too pretty. However, the great thing about cinderblocks is that they have perfectly sized holes for planting if filled with rocks first and then potting soil. So I made individually divided herb squares. Believe it or not, some of them even survived the cold northeast winter because they were protected by the cinderblocks and could absorb the full sun every day. They were planted by the river so to speak.

Learning To Grow

A few years ago, I would never have grown anything. I was always amazed that I’d kept a lilly I’d received in college alive for so long. Truth be told, my mother kept it for me until she died 13 years ago. So the credit is at least half hers. In any event – growing was her thing. She loved to garden, and I’d always believed I was terrible at making things grow. But, a few years ago, I undertook to try to grow some tomatoes and peppers. We ate them all summer – small crop, but still, they were good. Then I added basil and some flowers, which needed much more watering. Slowly, I was learning to grow.

That Was Then This Is Now

That brings me to today. I have only just begun my gardening time. Still, I already have bee balm, lemon balm, sage, Two types of Thyme, dill, basil, scallions, oregano, cilantro, romaine lettuce, spearmint, peppermint, and sweet mint growing in my cinderblocks and a few other things in my window sill. Soon I’ll be adding tomato, peppers, spinach, and perhaps some other lettuces or cabbage. I may even try zucchini or green beans! And, of course, lots more flowers, shrubs and maybe even a tree. The critical thing was finding out what they needed to grow: water, pruning, nutrients, sun, or shade. We are a garden, and I am amazed at how God knows just what each and every one of us needs to grow and thrive. What a blessing!

Salmon Of Knowledge Day 8 Reading

Jeremiah 17: 7 & 8  7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord whose confidence is in Him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.