As we covered in the last post, the garden is in full planning phase right now. So as I am working out the design and layout, I am also thinking about what to plant! I know… I’m a mess.
Nevertheless, this is a good time to exercise my mind over my past planting experiments and rehash all of the mental notes that I was supposed to be taking. There were some efforts that were rewarded with sweet success, and others… well… Let’s just say that I learned something sweet in the process.
While it is my determination to grow mostly edible plants, I’m still leaving some room for those plants that just make the world nicer for the looking. So far one ornamental plant is topping my list: Morning Glories. I love how they unfurl their flowers at the rising of the sun, and then wrap them tightly through the night.
Morning glories are special, not just for their beauty, but for the lessons that we can gain from them. What might those be? I’m so glad you’re intrigued!
First, the long story. I had the seeds for some morning glories in my hands, and I was so excited about seeing them actually grow, but planting them outside was not an option. I lived in Connecticut, and it wasn’t spring yet. Even if I could get them enough light the frost would surely kill them off before they had a chance. So I planned to try planting them inside. Sadly, I shared my idea with someone who did not share the vision. After politely ignoring their discouraging remarks about how the flowers would not grow, I made ready my supplies as soon as possible.
I knew that Morning Glories liked light, so I found a hanging basket at Dollar Tree, filled it with potting soil, and after following the instructions on the seed packet for planting, I hung the basket it my bedroom window from the hook in my ceiling. Now it was just a matter of watering as needed and watching to see what would develop. Soon, the little green shoots broke through the soil (I had planted 3 of them to make for fuller coverage). I was thrilled.
The little green shoots continued to develop and thicken, and then the tendrils started coming along. It was fascinating to watch them as they found the edges of the basket, then the little chains leading up to the ceiling. Finally, I saw what looked like a flower pod. This was getting serious now! The pod extended and expanded until I could see slices of what would be the petals of a flower.
Patience was challenged until Sabbath (commonly called Saturday) morning. As I dressed for church my eye caught the most beautiful sight: my first morning glory had opened! How wonderful! I thanked God, made my mom come witness it, and even shared my testimony at church that day. I know for most folks this would be such a little thing, but I felt so blessed! That morning glory basket bloomed many more flowers, and every day I was reminded of the profound lessons this experience had taught me.
Lessons Learned:
1) Beautiful things will grow if given the right conditions
2) Be careful about sharing your dreams with people who harbor negativity and discouragement
3) There are lots of things to be thankful for: start counting your “little” blessings and see!
4) God loves to encourage His children with tokens of His love: He tailors those tokens to our unique personalities.
5) I’m not as patient as I like to think I am.
6) Just as those little flowers brightened my day as they opened to the morning sun, God longs for His children to open their hearts to Him and His Son every morning so He can bless them and use them to brighten somebody else’s experience.
7) If the Lord does something special for you, encourage others with your testimony: it compounds the blessings!
Until the next post, be sure to get your glories in the morning, and keep it simple!
P.S.–
I recently learned that there are varieties of Morning Glories called “Moon Flowers” that open in the evening and stay in bloom until the break of dawn! I simply must find some of those too!