From the Pastor's Pen

Dear friends,

I spent a little time in the garden this afternoon with my husband.  We are creating a new small bed in the front yard in which we plan to plant a small ornamental tree and maybe some day lilies around it.  I haven’t decided on the complete plan yet.  In the meantime it is a lot of work to dig up this new bed.  Our house has been here a long time and I’m sure the yard has been through a variety of plantings.  It appears there was once a large bush with big roots where we are digging the new bed!

There was also a hydrangea bush in this area.  It had to go, but I love hydrangea bushes.  So we dug it up carefully and then Mike split it up.  I planned to get four smaller plantings from it, but we actually managed to get six!  I then dug spots along the south side of the house for a row of hydrangeas.  I loosened the soil, fertilized and planted, covering with mulch. I’m sure they will be huge in a couple of years with big balls of color in the summer.

I really marvel at how well hydrangea divide, transplant and thrive.  I first divided my hydrangea bushes in La Porte under the guidance of a master gardener.  He assured me hydrangeas are hardy plants.  He said I couldn’t hurt them.  He said as long as I gave each divided plant enough of the root ball, they would take to their new location.  I haven’t lost a hydrangea yet, so fingers crossed.

There are several verses about the need to prune plantings in the Bible.  One of my favorites comes from Jesus’ comments about pruning the vine.  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15:2)  There is an understanding among gardeners that pruning, digging around the base of the plant and sometimes digging up to divide are all good for the plant.  They grow better after a little disruption.  Those of us who love plants, care for them in ways that at times appear a little rough, but our plants thrive because of the attention.

I feel like I have been pruned a great deal in this last year.  At least I have certainly endure a great deal of disruption!  I know you have as well.  I wonder how we will grow in this coming year as individuals and as a church.  I’m ready to bear good fruit.  How about you?

Peace,

Pr. Sally