We had a lovely afternoon at the Chicago Botanical Garden. The flowers were in bloom in the conservatories. Lovely wreaths adorned the walls. Poinsettias lined the displays and were hanging from the ceiling! A variety of trains were on display as a Christmas exhibit. The miniature trains travel on tracks through scenes of Chicago. Linking… Continue reading Flowers and Wreaths at the Chicago Botanical Garden
Category: Gardening
A Flower that Survives the Snowstorms
It is December in Illinois, and throughout our neighborhood there are winter decorations. We have a wreath on our door. My display of angels celebrating the birth of Jesus is in our foyer. We have had two snowstorms and to my surprise the calendula flower has two buds. It may still bloom! I love this… Continue reading A Flower that Survives the Snowstorms
Promise of Spring as Winter Approaches
The mild fall that we have had has allowed me to spend more time in the yard. I have been planting and transplanting and raking leaves. My husband was working also, creating piles of branches. He has a chain saw and after he took down one tree he found lots of branches to trim. Something… Continue reading Promise of Spring as Winter Approaches
Hope in Chicago and at Home
For Chicago baseball fans, the Cubs are symbolic of hope. The excitement over the National league playoffs was vibrant this fall. Then four straight losses to the Mets. Once again the refrain is wait till next year. In my garden I have many opportunities for hope. I have been struggling with brown rot… Continue reading Hope in Chicago and at Home
Preserving Herbs: Thyme Vinegar
The mild fall weather is so welcome! Yard work is pleasant and I have found some fall raspberries to savor while I work. Wilting vines And a layer of leaves Yard clean-up Sweetened by fall raspberries My calendula is still blooming and my rosemary and thyme are still growing. I plan to bring the rosemary… Continue reading Preserving Herbs: Thyme Vinegar
Lovely Aroma in a World of Conflict
Are you discouraged by the conflicts and moray decay all around us? I am. The study of the book of Acts is giving me hope. I am glad that this book was chosen for the fall Precept Bible study. Sometimes political issues stir my emotions. Can political action groups solve the problems? They may have… Continue reading Lovely Aroma in a World of Conflict
Apple-Sage-Cheddar Muffins
The sage in my garden is thriving. This summer it flowered. The beautiful weather this fall has extended our growing season. I have plenty of sage. The texture of the leaves has an artistic appearance, lovely to the touch. I am going to use it in some in… Continue reading Apple-Sage-Cheddar Muffins
Gardens of Hope
During the past week I returned to Detroit. (The first 12 years of my life I lived in Detroit.) I was shocked to drive though a community with abandoned and burned out houses. And yet there is hope and a passion for life here. I visited Brightmoor and I was treated to a walking tour of the… Continue reading Gardens of Hope
Calendula: A Healing Flower
In recent years I have been charmed by the benefits of a flower that has a long history. According to the Complete Herbal Book: This sunny little flower—the “merrybuds” of Shakespeare—was first used in Indian and Arabic cultures, before being “discovered” by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks.* The medicinal qualities of calendula are listed: Calendula flowers… Continue reading Calendula: A Healing Flower
Star Flowers
When the grandchildren come to my home they like to pick berries and flowers. I name the various berries and tell them a little about them. We talk about which berries are safe to eat. The flowers have names too. The granddaughters have enjoyed picking stalks of flowers— tiny white stars covering a stem that… Continue reading Star Flowers