Red Bud

Redbud tree flower today April 24th. The flower bud opened today in our back yard.

April 18th photo

Photo April 11th

Regrowth

I had pruned this bush back in the winter because it was overgrowing the house windows. It looked like the bush might die because I pruned off so much. The above photo shows the buds in the stem were able to take over and respond to the light of Spring.

Looking at the stem you can't see any buds but often they are there.

At times we think the things of life end our ability to do things for the Lord. Keeping our heart open to the Lord will allow us to again serve Him.

Proverbs 24:16

"For a righteous man falls seven times, 

and rises again, 

But the wicked stumble in time of calamity."

Hawthorne Tree Flower

April 11th

April 17th

A treat to see these flowers bloom.

Sunrise

Sunrise is always captivating.

Malachi 4:2 

"But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall."

Great Blue Heron

Great blue Heron in flight. One against the trees, and the other against the sky.

Tendril

Vines put out these tendrils to catch hold of another plant to support them.

Luke 21:14 "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;"

Iris

Iris plant making its appearance. Below are some photos of what we have to look forward to.

Iris making their appearance for this year.

Psalm 96:2 "Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day."

Tulip

This tulip first opened on the 12th of April 2018.

Blue Winged Teal

Found Blue Winged Teal at a Wildlife area near where I live. I would guess there was about 200 to 300 there. I didn't see the whole area so not sure how many.

Pdsalm 145 4-7

"One generation praises your deeds to the next

    and proclaims your mighty works.

5 They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory,

    tell of your wonderful deeds.

6 They speak of the power of your awesome acts

    and recount your great deeds.

7 They celebrate your abounding goodness

    and joyfully sing of your justice."

Tulips

 Photos taken April 11th

Psalm 128 NASB

"How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

Who walks in His ways.

2 When you shall eat of the [a]fruit of your hands,

You will be happy and it will be well with you.

3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine

[b]Within your house,

Your children like olive plants

Around your table.

4 Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed

Who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion,

And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

6 Indeed, may you see your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!"

Screech Owl

This is the red phase of the Screech Owl.

A smaller owl than other owls. They are smaller than 9" tall.

They like to live in open areas in the undergrowth of the forest. They will eat most any kind of animal such as rabbits, mice and worms etc.

They nest in holes and cavities of trees. But will not dig out a hole themselves. They will accept a nest box to live in. They lay from 2 to 6 eggs once a year. And they incubate the eggs 27 to 34 days.

They hunt at night but can hunt in the day. They fly in a U shapped pattern. And the young depend on their food for about 6 to 8 weeks.

It is estimated there are 900,000 of these owls in existance.

Of course their call is a screech  but not always. 

Owls are a sign of wisdom.  The Greek goddess of wisdom had an owl as her symbol. It also could be that they are successful hunters, able to get game that humans were not able to catch. Also their large eyes give the impression of wisdom.

Proverbs 3:7 " Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil."

Ducks on the Move

Caught a bunch of ducks on the move the other day. Bad weather may be holding them south. We got snow last Sunday and more snow is in the forecast for the coming week.

Are we moving forward in our life purpose, or do we go with the flow? The Lord will direct us as we trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight."

Lord, I look to you to direct my paths as I acknowledge you in all I do. Thank you for making this real in my life.

Wind

Wind

Wind may blow, but is hard to tell where it comes from.

Sometimes it is gentle and other times vicious. I feel more alive when it blows in my face. When wind is still, life seems to be waiting.

When the temperature is cold wind can be dangerous. When the temperature is hot wind can bring a little bit of refreshment.

Wind can bring power by turning a windmill or pushing a sailboat. Wind can be destructive with a tornado or hurricane.

Wind brings the rain as clouds move in. Without rain life couldn't exist. Wind will bring the life giving rain and God will bring the life giving direction if we will agree to listen.

God speaks at times like a soft breeze. Reading the Bible and listening for God, brings enlightenment and peace.

Young Eastern Red Cedar

Here is a young E. Red Cedar growing in the grass. It doesn't have much of a chance to grow because it is located in a field that is mowed every year. It grows every year but is mowed down in the fall. So this is the life it will live.

Our life can be like the Cedar tree. What we try to do is cut down often. Unlike the tree, we have the ability to change where we grow.

Don't just do the same thing over and over. Make a change in your life that needs to be made. Start again with a new beginning. Let Jesus do a new thing in your life to bring vitality.

Here is the field where I found this small tree.

Asian Honey Suckle

These invasive plants can clog up the forest making it impossible to walk through. In some areas of the woods, the undergrowth is clogged with them. Some parks ask for volunteers to help cut them out.

Just as in the natural the way looks impossible. God can make a way when there is no way. It doesn't happen in the natural. We can look to God to bring it to pass when we can't do it. Spend time with the Lord in prayer for the answer to your problem. He will answer if you don't give up.

Little Bluestem Grass

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Here is a picture of the grass in August.

Native grass grows better in its natural environment, but this grass won't work with mowing it as a lawn to make it look nice and keep the bugs away. Of course this grass is used in a park, not in a residential setting.

Our use of plants becomes more successful if we use native plants. As long as we keep in mind the limitations that the plant has.

If you can call 4 foot high grass little it is little. As compared to big blue stem grass which is about 8 feet tall. the root system can grow 5 to 8 feet deep. Little blue stem grass planted along farm edges provides habitat for many small animals and there are many seeds of high quality which feed many birds. Because of its hardiness it is planted in areas of ground that have been disturbed, to stabilize the soil.

Let us come to a place that we can stabilize others aroud us that need encouragement.

Hindered Growth

Here is an old Bur oak that has grown a lot to the left but seems to be restricted in growing to the right. It seems that a large tree existed to the right of this tree.

People sometimes are developed in one area but are stunted in another area. We should be aware of our weaknesses and work at them to grow in those areas.

We can turn our weaknesses to strength as we rely on Christ to use us and work through us.

Be prepared.

Look for ways to serve others with the same problem.

Partner with Other People’s Strengthsere.

Treat Your Weaknesses Like Blindspots.

Overwhelm your Weaknesses with Strengths.

Face your fears.

Grow from your mistakes.

Embrace your discomfort.

Take good care of yourself.

Speak to your mountain.

Be renewed in the Scriptures and turn to God.

Vines Growing in Grass

I had put some bark mulch around the trees in my front yard back in 2014. I didn't realize it but there were some vine seeds in this mulch and they grew into the grass. You really couldn't see them in the grass in some places. I got a rake with long teeth and pulled the vines up so I could tell where they were. Then I sharpened my sharp shooter shovel on a grinder and cut the vines below the ground with the shovel.  We didn't want to use poison herbicide because that gets in the garden and might cause all kind of damage to our bodies.

Here is the pile of vines I extracted from my yard.  The volume of vines was surprising.

Here is the photo of our front yard. The straw is where the vines were solid. The straw holds the grass seed down during rains. 

There are things in our life that are under the surface but affect our life if we allow them to remain. Get the root of bitterness and unforgiveness out of your life and life will be much better. Why let the past ruin your life. Cast your care on Jesus and let Him take care of it. 1 Peter 5:7

Willow Tree Leafing Out

Willow tree leafing out before others at a local park. March 30 2018

Psalm 41:1 "How blessed is he who considers the helpless;

The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble."

The Difference a Day Makes

 It snowed about 4 hours after I took the picture April 1st.  Now the daffodils are wilted. What will happen when the warmth of the Sun returns?

This is 2 days after it snowed. It warmed up to 36 degrees and rained about 1/4"

Today, April 4th,  it is 23 degrees. So the daffodils are wilted.

Now on April 8th we have had a couple of relatively nice days but this afternoon it is snowing again.

Still going strong April 11th

Plants and especially flowers are at the mercy of the weather. 

Christians don't have to respond to opposition of people or economic events or social trouble in the same way as these flowers. When trouble comes, look to the Lord and He will sustain you.

Psalm 121:1-2 NASB 

"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth."

April 17th the end of the line for daffodils for this year.

Daffodils on Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday celebrates the resurection of our Lord Jesus. Without His resurrection there is no hope in all that He taught us in the Bible.

1 Peter 1:3 NASB "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"