God's Garden

God's Garden

THE Lord God planted a garden
In the first white days of the world,
And He set there an angel warden
In a garment of light enfurled.

So near to the peace of Heaven,
That the hawk might nest with the wren,
For there in the cool of the even
God walked with the first of men.

And I dream that these garden-closes
With their shade and their sun-flecked sod
And their lilies and bowers of roses,
Were laid by the hand of God.

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,--
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

For He broke it for us in a garden
Under the olive-trees
Where the angel of strength was the warden
And the soul of the world found ease.

~Dorothy Frances Gurney

Garden railways appeal to kids, train enthusiasts, gardeners...especially at holidays

Trains in Gardens a Particular Hit at Holiday Time


I had a large scale garden and will set it back up after moving. Will post some pictures of it at a later time.

November 17, 2009

Today's flower is the Tree Stramony, Datura arborea (Angel's Trumpet) dedicated to St. Gregory. Of the family Solanaceae, it has large trumpet shaped flowers and hallucinogenic properties.

I saw my first one at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in their gardens last August so took several photos, including the one above.

Still much to do in the garden, fun and chores including planting edible greens. Swiss chard, kale, lettuce can be planted in containers and enjoyed during the cold months. Your local nursery and big box stores have multiple color choices of mums you can set out on your porch. Pot enough to give as gifts.

Mulch, mulch, mulch! Don't bag your leaves, mulch them instead.

Happy Labor Day

Especially to those who are laboring today.

Check out the Monestery Garden's virtual tour.

Today's flower is the Golden Aster, (Golden Starwort Aster solidaginoides according to the Every-Day book) and is dedicated to St. Cloud.

Save $$ and water by creating a rain garden. Learn, design construct and maintain with the help of Rain Garden Design Templates

August 26, 2009

"The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for Him there." George Bernard Shaw

Flowers pay tribute to Virgin Mary

Flowers pay tribute to Virgin Mary
By Nate Robson / The Citizen

Monday, August 17, 2009 11:42 PM EDT

A once forgotten religious tradition will be revived when thousands of flowers fill Saint Mary's Church in Auburn to pay homage to the church's namesake.
The displays will transform the neo-gothic-style church into a temporary Mary Garden by using flowers named after the Virgin Mary's attributes. Cont.
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2009/08/18/go/go04.txt

August 25

Another Sunflower today, the Helianthus multiflorus is the "many flower" sunflower and was dedicated to St. Lewis. Every-Day Book is Lewis, many other sources it's Louis. Use this sunflower at the back of borders, combine with ornamental grasses and use as cut flowers. It grows 4-6 ft.



The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Genesis 2:8

August 24, 2009

Sunflower Helianthus annuus, one of Ben's favorites to grow is dedicated to St. Bartholomew


Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9

August 23

Tansy Tanacetum vulgare is today's flower dedicated to St. Philip Beniti according to the Every-Day Book actually spelled Tanzey in the book.

USCCB Media Blog: Anti-Catholicism Makes Cartoon of New Yorker

USCCB Media Blog: Anti-Catholicism Makes Cartoon of New Yorker

July 5

The Monk's Catalogue of Flowers dedicated to St. Edana on this day is the Double Yellow Rose - Rosa sulphurea today called Rosa hemisphaerica.

The rose is one of the most used flowers in a Mary garden. The word rosary meant rose garden. In the middle ages the rose was the queen of flowers, symbol of the Virgin Mary (read The Image of the Rose). Many rosaries are made with rosebuds. Get a free blessed rose petal from the Our Lady of the Roses Shrine.

July 4

Happy Independence Day!

Today's flower from the Monk's Catalogue of Flowers is Copper Day Lily Hemerocallis fulva and dedicated to St. Ulric. The religious name for the day lily is St. Joseph's Lily. A page maintained by The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute explains how the lilies became Mary's flower.

I will be like the dew to Israel;
He will blossom like the lily....Hosea 14:5

The day lily is easily propagated by division.

July is the perfect time for propagating your Azalea (Rhododendron). Propagate by cuttings removing any flower buds. Wound the base of the cuttings on both sides and dip in rooting hormone. Medium can be 2/3 sphagnum peat moss and one perlite or one part peat moss and one part perlite. I've rooted them in perlite alone with good results. They do best under mist or tented to hold moisture in.

July 3

Today's flower is Malva sylvestris, (Tried Mallow) from the Monk's Catalogue of Flowers and is dedicated to St. Phocas the gardener.

Malva is grown in full sun or partial shade in hot areas; have upright growth with flowers similar to the hibiscus. They can be propagated by division and seed. It does self-sow.

The religious name for mallow is Lady's Cheeses and is a perfect choice for your Mary Garden.