It is getting to be that time of the year again. People are getting anxious to get out into their gardens again! To get out in the sunlight and to catch some vitamin K.
But first, it usually means a stop at Bayside Garden Center, or Bluemels or Plantland, or Steins or Milaegers, Minor’s Garden Center, Nature’s Nook or the Loomis Road Nursery…if nothing else, just to look around and maybe get some ideas!
Then you have to decide are you going to work on flower gardens or on vegetable gardens? Are we looking for hanging baskets, mulch, or peat moss? Do we need any additional top soil and what about some miracle grow, fertilizer or some weed-be-gone? Make sure you have some good work gloves! And trust me – a kneeling pad “is” a GREAT IDEA…
Just one of these trips can cost a pretty penny and set you back a dime or two…so you need to be prepared for the accumulated sticker shock at the end!
It’s a little late to start plants from seed, so you may want to consider plants that are already grown and ready for planting.
Then there is always the question of perennials or annuals? Decisions, decisions, decisions…
Flowers are beautiful and they do add to the curb appeal of your home, but there is nothing quite like fresh home grown savory vegetables. They are so tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes, the Best Boys, the Beefsteak, the Golden varieties, the Roma’s, the Steakhouse, the Big boys…so many varieties to choose from…
Is there anything better than a freshly grown and homemade BLT?
And what about squash, zucchini, pepper plants, carrots, lettuce and on and on it goes. The upside is you get to eat what you grow! The plants just add beauty and serenity…
The real place to begin however is always with preparing your soil. You want to make sure that the ground is well prepared to give your plants, the best possible start! It needs to be pliable.
Having a roto-tiller is always a plus, when it comes to cultivating and loosening the soil! But a shovel and hoe can work just as well…
I have only had one experience with cucumbers. You have to be ready for them to spread out. They need some room. They crawl. They are a vine. I had no clue that they do the best when they are framed or trellised.
A trellis can help to minimize disease and blemishes, maximizes garden space and make the area easy, neat and clean.
But no one offered me any hints or suggestions. So rather than grow vertically, mine grew horizontally…and spread out all over on the ground.
Then I noticed that some of my leaves were turning brown and rolling. They were not green and vibrant. So, I followed the vines back to the main plant.
Where I witnessed all kinds of grubs eating through the stems laying on the ground. The grubs and other bugs had the stem almost in two separate pieces.
That’s’ when the light came on – that the cucumber plant was dependent on the main plant for water and nourishment. Life giving juices flowed from the main plant to the branches, to the leaves and to the high quality delicious fruit that was just starting to form. Everything was dying.
All the watering in the world would not help. The damage was already done…nothing could save the vine the insects had taken their toll.
This whole experience reminded me of what Jesus was talking about in the gospels. Everything is connected and everything is dependent. The fruit needs the leaves, the leaves need the vines and the vines need the plant and the roots which reach down into the soils beneath.
The fruit could not exist – were it not for the vine.
All of it is needed and necessary.
So when Jesus was saying he is the vine and we are the branches – he was talking about the very special relationship that exists between him and us. We are dependent on him for everything we need in our daily life, from food, health, family, church family, good friends to love, forgiveness, hope, comfort and eternal life.
Apart from him we would be like the cucumber with its wilting-withering leaves. Without being joined to the main plant and roots, we would spiritually die.
Our faith is strengthened and we are nourished by God’s word and by the sacrament on a weekly basis and it is all such a blessing.
We are indeed blessed. Amen.