06.04.2023 | Ordinary Sunday

It's a lovely start to this Sunday morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  As it has been many days since our last rainfall, my morning begins as it has, with watering.  I've developed a watering schedule now.  I'm trying to stagger the beds and keep everything looking lovely and healthy.  We could use a bit of heavenly moisture for sure!

My Lily of the Valley bush (Pieris Japonica) is doing quite well in the back garden.  We planted her a few weeks ago and she is adjusting quite nicely to her new home.  I love this plant.  We had one for many years that succumbed to some sort of plague a few years back.  I wanted to wait before trying to replant to make sure the new one would not be infected as well.  We lost our Japonica, two Rhododendrons and several Azaleas that same year.  I'm still unsure as to what happened.

It is such a joy to spend these quiet moments with the plants each morning.  The Garden becomes a sanctuary.  A haven for retreat and refuge from the struggles of life.  It's been a week this week. I have had a few struggles, but the Garden is my shelter and safe harbor.  A loving, holy place where I feel closer to the creator of life.  The Psalms call God "an ever-present help in trouble."  In fact, the word "refuge" is used 43 times in the Psalms alone.  Each time referring to God as our safe refuge, our sanctuary.  My prayer is that we each may find our own have for retreat and refuge from the struggles of life and fall into the arms of the one who created us and loves us, just the way we are right now.  Amen.