In 2004 I had major surgery. I remember when I got home one of the don’ts on my doctor’s list was gardening. So, I immediately got interested in gardening. What was it that they don’t want you to do? My uneducated mind tells me that that is probably the best thing for you.. Well, I was part wrong. Yes I admit it. After the major surgery that I had one does not need to do all the bending and stooping that gardening requires. However, I did a lot of planning for my flower beds, by checking out HeavenlyTidbits.com and Watergardenpondsandfountains.com. Planning is half the work. Then as I got the strength and could gradually work into it, I found a new love.

Did you know that a flower is an accent. It is an adjective which enhances, a young girl at her first high school dance, or a woman on a blind date, or a house when you need to spruce it up for an event or to put it on the market for sale. Flowers do wonders. The color and beauty which is added to a memorable event or to show off the many things which God has given us to enjoy.

One can user relatively inexpensive items such as birdbaths, birdfeeders, fountains, garden statuary and garden décor, etc…as listed at HeavenlyTidbits.com. Of course one could go overboard but, you don’t have to. Examples of higher end items might be found at Watergardenpondsandfountains.com. My biggest problem is knowing when to plant what so I have color all year long. That’s especially difficult when planning for the winter season. I make sure I have lots of evergreens so at the very least things don’t look dead. Brown and droopy is not my idea of pretty.

Remember I said to show off the many things which God has given us to enjoy? Well, start counting the different birds and creatures which your garden or flower bed draws to it. Set our a few birdfeeders and maybe a birdbath or two like the ones at HeavenlyTidbits.com and sit back and enjoy. I put up 3 small hummingbird feeders on one end of my porch. I also have a swing on my front porch which along with a cup of coffee provides a place of seclusion when its needed or a place for an intimate talk with my spouse, or a place to gather and visit and remember the good old days. That’s called nostalgia I think. Now I’m getting off track. From that swing I can view God’s handy work. I give him full credit for what is produced.

I took my camera out the other day and took a few pictures. My climbing roses are in full bloom and reach to the roof of the house. I have 3 colors of primroses in a flower bed on one side of my porch along with a “Texas purple sage", and a mum, and some multi-color gladiolas. On the other side I have some fern and 2 colors of petunias along with some holly bushes. I have a birdbath, similar to one of those on HeavenlyTidbits.com separating the petunias and holly bushes from two hydrangeas bushes and an elephant ear plant. They get the morning sun. I also have two hanging strawberry plants and one hanging ivy plant. I am visited daily by the hummingbirds (they love the flowers) and various other birds as I have two large feeders on the opposite end from the hummingbird feeders. (Red birds (cardinals), black birds, blue birds, finches, wrens, sparrows, blue jays, red wing black birds, etc…………And at certain times of the year one sees Robins. We even have a couple of resident doves.) The squirrels and rabbits come up to the porch. Squirrels can be pesky creatures. Occasionally one might see an armadillo. You know they are there because of the ruts they create in the yard. And during particular times of the year you can see the deer roaming from grove to grove. And I can’t leave out the butterflies. WOW what color! But the most amazing thing is that this is all God’s creation. As you go through your day, take time to enjoy the wonderful gifts of nature.