Flowers and Friends

FLOWERS AND FRIENDS

    On our way back from NC in June, we stopped in the charming historical town of Edenton.  This beautiful bouquet of hydrangeas sat in the hallway of the Barker House and I wanted to share their beauty with you.  In 1774, the home's owner, Penelope Barker, led 50 other women in an act of protest against the British government and the unfair Tea Tax forced upon the American colonies by King George.  It must have been a real act of patriotism by these ladies to forego their beloved cups of tea!  I'm not sure this "Barker" would have been able to toe the line -- I do like my morning cuppa!

     These lovely Mimosa blossoms grow in my son Nathan's yard in NC.  The delicate, silky flowers and elegant dark green leaves have such an exotic look to them -- I just love it!  They are originally from China and the Middle East, and have been called the Tree of Happiness by some people.  It always makes me happy to see them fluttering in the breeze.

    Yet another flower from NC, this time at the Asheboro Zoo.  This interesting flower is a Red Hot Poker in the lily family, native to Africa.  Guess that's why we saw it growing in the elephant enclosure at the zoo.  My mother loved these flowers and every time I see one, I immediately think of her and imagine how pleased she would be to see it.  I wouldn't be surprised if she's included a whole section of Red Hot Pokers in her heavenly garden in the sky.

    A dear friend of ours from church, C.H. Powers, wrote a poem about Flowers and Friends some years ago and he gave it to us.  C.H. is now up in heaven too -- enjoying the many things he missed out on when he was here on earth.  Here's what he wrote,

  For friends are flowers, of the Garden of Life,

  And some flowers grow, on a long narrow sod;

  There's red ones and yellow ones, and many other colors,

  But greatest of all, they were created by God.

  Now some flowers bloom, only in their own season,

  And true friends bloom, and stay in season all year long;

  Just as the flowers, we also need the Sunshine,

  And the Son shines in our hearts, and gives a glad song.

    This is not usually considered a particularly beautiful flower, but I think the contrast of the prickly tough green leaf with the delicate yellow bloom is quite interesting -- and even a bit courageous.  I give the cactus flower points for its fluffy beauty atop an inhospitable base and usually found in the desert.  This plant resides along the edge of the baboon enclosure at the Asheboro Zoo.  "The desert shall rejoice and blossom...it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice," Isaiah 35:1-2.

   God "has made everything beautiful in its time.  Also He has put eternity in their hearts..." Ecclesiastes 3:11.

    Hope you enjoyed a bouquet of varied blossoms from God's amazing creation!