​It's a gorgeous morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  The Celosia are looking quite lovely right now.  If you’re in the mood to plant something a little different to dazzle your neighbors and make them say ooh and ahh, consider planting a few flamingo cockscomb plants. Growing this bright, eye-catching annual couldn’t be much easier.  Dirt, sun, and water.  A bit of fertilizer on occasion. 

I've actually had a bit of time to read this week as I'm convalescing from my recent dental escapades.  This quote from Mirabia Starr hit me, "Once you know the God of Love, you fire all the others gods."  It's always hard for me to believe in the nonjudgmental, loving, and merciful God, and yet, that is the God we actually have.  We don't measure up to this God, we just show up.  We behold the one looking at us with nothing but love.  That's the God of Love.

The sun is shining here in the Garden this Thursday in June.  It's lovely and quiet.  I'm believing, in this moment, in the God of Love.  I don't measure up, but it doesn't matter.  I can see the Creator in his creation all around me.  It's time to fire all the other gods.  Amen.

It's a cloudy morning here in the Carondelet Garden in South Saint Louis.  We are hooping for a bit of heavenly moisture, but it doesn't look very promising.  On the other hand, this is Saint Louis so who knows?  

It's a quiet day around here today.  I'm taking it easy and healing after the Dentist's visit on Monday.  Every day is a bit better, and things will be back to normal soon.  Right now, I'm trying to relax and rejuvenate this old body.  

Be good and be kind to yourself as you travel about this Wednesday in Ordinary Time.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

A simply stunning beginning to this Tuesday in Ordinary Time.  It's beautiful here in the Carondelet Garden this morning.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the flowers are bursting forth in glory.  "Oh, what a beautiful morning!" as they sang in Oklahoma!

I love my Scots-Irish ancestry.  I love the music, the lilt of an Irish brogue, the tradition of storytelling and drink.  I love the spirituality and the welcoming spirit.  I love the Scottish phrase, "Coorie in!"  Come in, sit down, relax.  You are safe here.  You are welcome here.  Be cozy and comforted.  It's a way of loving your neighbor.  Inviting those who are wearing of walking through this broken world to "coorie in" to a place of welcome and kindness.  Isn't that what our creator is doing for us?  "Coorie in!" You are safe here and welcome.  You are loved!  As Matthew says, "Come... I will give you rest!"

It's a beautiful day here in South Saint Louis.  I wish you comfort and kindness on this Tuesday in Ordinary Time. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

A lovely morning here in the Carondelet Garden in South Saint Louis.  The green beans are doing their thing this Monday in June.  Looking forward to the fresh beans soon!  Nothing like eating fresh right out of the garden.

We watered everything quite well yesterday.  We did get a few spot showers, but nothing added up to much.  I heard from friends that they received quite a bit of rain but that was not the case here in Carondelet.  Everything does look a bit brighter this morning after yesterday's soak. 

A new week, a new day, another opportunity to create a bit of beauty and joy in the world around us.  Be good to yourself and others.  Be kind to the person staring back at you in the mirror this morning.  You deserve some kindness today.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

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.

It's Butterfly Saturday here in the Carondelet Garden.  We spent yesterday afternoon visiting our friends @gardenheights to pick up this stunning Pugster Periwinkle dwarf butterfly bush.  We've been wanting one for the longest time but did not have space for the regular variety.  This gorgeous dwarf butterfly bush will make an excellent addition to the Carondelet Garden.

Dwarf butterfly bushes grow to a maximum of between two and three feet in height and are semi-deciduous plants. Dwarf Butterfly bushes are fairly hardy shrubs.  While butterfly bushes are considered to be an invasive species in some regions, that shouldn’t be a problem here in the Carondelet Garden.

Despite needing direct sunlight and nutrient-rich, aerated soil, the dwarf butterfly bush can grow in a variety of terrain and climates. The dwarf butterfly bush simply needs some sunlight, water, and good soil to thrive.

The dwarf butterfly bush is semi-deciduous in our neighborhood. This usually happens once a year during the fall season. The entire plant will become bare and brittle until springtime. During spring, new leaves will start to grow and the tree will begin to grow once more.

A beautiful, hot Saturday in South Saint Louis.  Be good to yourself and to those you may pass on your journey.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It's a lovely, sunny warm morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  We've added a new Rhododendron to the front garden.  Very excited about this new addition. Don't you love flowering plants?

It's a work day here in the garden this morning.  We harvested all of the lettuce this past week and will be replacing it with some lovely annuals to enjoy for the rest of the summer.  We love the added color and beauty.  Our Snap Peas are producing a ton of blossoms right now so very excited about that.  Tomatoes are looking really good as well.  They love this warmer weather.  It's an exciting time in the gardening world.

It's a good day for a good day.  I'm practicing joy this weekend.  We all need a bit of joy in our lives.  Here to some goodness and kindness in our world.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

Welcome back to Ordinary Time!  The Lantana are loving the sunshine, but the lack of rain is making watering my part-time job so far this Spring.  No storms, but a wee, soft, gentle soaking rain would be more than welcome right now.  

While pruning succors off of my tomato plants yesterday I was amazed at the number of fruits I found beginning their journey to tomato sauce.  Such a joy to see nature doing its thing in such a glorious manner.  I'm excited at the prospect of things to come!

I saw a sign the other day that really made me stop for a minute:  "Everyone wants a Revolution.  Nobody wants to do the Dishes."  It got me to thinking about how I often dream of the grand things.  We want change and we want it now.  I know I can get so impatient for stuff to happen, but the reality is that the work of change is daily and repetitive.  Again and again, I need to repent and believe and begin again.  The work is quiet, repetitive and ordinary.  It happens day after day after day.  Yes, sometimes the revolution or the revelation happens, and it is mind blowing.  Then the work continues.  I have to remind myself to do the work.  The weeds do not pull themselves.  Prayer needs to happen whether I feel like it or not.  My work continues. Amen!