The Garden

“And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed…And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis  2:8; 3:8).

I wonder if that’s why gardens hold such an attraction, the fact that a garden was our first home? The Lord must love gardens and I like to think that He created Eden to resemble His home, Heaven.

Yesterday after the radio interview with Amy Beth Arkawy (and thanks again, Amy Beth) I put mulch around some roses. Before I did that though, I soaked the ground, put down layers of newspaper,thoroughly wet them, then spread a thick layer of mulch. There is more to do but at least the mulch spreading is started. It was a warm day in NW Arkansas, the temperature reached 80, so after getting hot, I sat down with a Coke and enjoyed looking at my birthday garden.

The plants are growing. The climbing plant is twining around the porch support. The others look happy and healthy. A hummingbird flew in to sample the daisies then just as quickly, darted away. It was very nice to sit on the porch and look at it all.

Much more needs to be done; impatiens under the oak, herbs in the back yard. A few years ago, not many bees or butterflies came to the back yard but more are venturing in now. It is interesting to see which plants they prefer. A  robin has claimed the small birdbath in the container garden as her own.  I guess it’s just the right size for  one bird and she likes the snugness.

Gardens are beautiful any time but to me, they are at their best in the early morning, just as the sun slips in to warm them or when twilight shadows lie across the flowers. What better place for evening vespers than a garden?

I’m reminded of a hymn we used to sing long ago, In the Garden by C. Austin Miles, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, And the voice I hear falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses.”