Paradise

"If God hath made this world so fair
   Where sin and death abound,
How beautiful beyond compare
   Will paradise be found."
                                  James Montgomery

                                          

Some Favorite Magazines

These are a few of my favorite magazines:

First off is my Canadian Gardening Magazines. These are full of wonderful gardens from all over Canada, with tons of great tips and new plants and flowers to drool over. :) It also has a section in each issue that covers each province and whats going on there, featuring plants that grow well there, public gardens and shows. I love that this magazine has so many photos and I can get great ideas to incorporate into my own garden.

Better Homes and Gardens is another favorite with the bonus of great recipes and home decorating ideas. It also includes articles on home improvement. The makeover rooms are fun to read about and I love the before and after photos!

Victoria Magazine puts out a special Gardening Issue each year and I love it! This one had lots of great ideas for bouquets in assortment of vases for use in home or garden. It also featured beautiful gardens from all over the world. One section included a page for each color palette of the garden...pink, blue, yellow and white...and showcased flowers from each. The photography in this magazine is gorgeous and I'm looking forward to the next garden themed issue!

Raking Leaves

Raking leaves has always been a family affair in our home. We have a few large trees in our backyard...cherry,  birch and maple and in a couple of weeks it will be time to get out there again to clean it all up. Now that are children are getting older its a bit harder to get them out there to help, but I enjoy it when they do.

I love the fall color and wish it lasted a bit longer. Such beauty in color.

Birdhouses

I've been wanting to get a birdhouse for some time now. I've had bird feeders in the past but found that I kept forgetting to fill them with food. not a good thing for the birds! With a birdhouse I wouldn't have to do anything but watch them fly in and out and make their nests and start their families. :) Here are a few pictures I found of some birdhouse that I think would be fun to have in my yard.

Fall Plantings

Now is the time of year when I plant my spring bulbs for next year. I found these beautiful double tulips for my front door container. They are called 'Sweet Desire' and I can't wait to see these beauties bloom!

I also bought lots of light pink tulips called 'Synaeda Amor' and dark pink tulips called 'Don Quichotte', for my front yard.
 

  

Along with delft blue hyacinth and blue pearl crocuses. Hyacinth are my favorite spring bulb. I always try to plant some in the garden nearest the front door, because they have the most gorgeous fragrance. 

For my back yard I choose some white hyacinth and orange tulips. I'm looking forward to a spring garden next year full of beautiful flowers!

The Appearance of Created Things

“Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?”

— St. Augustine (354-430)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trees

Ever since I can remember I've been captivated by the beauty of trees. There is something grand about them. I'm thankful that the Lord created these lovely trees for us to enjoy.

The Cherry tree with its pink spring blossoms are my very favorite trees.

The beauty of the Oak tree is stunning. I love this photo and the way the branches are reaching over this path.

Maple trees are gorgeous in the fall. Here in Canada, they are our national symbol and displayed on our flag.

The majestic redwood trees are breath taking as you drive through the redwood forest in California. I absolutely love these trees!

His Glory

"When we behold the light and brightness of the sun, the golden edges of an evening cloud, or the beauteous rainbow, we behold the adumbrations of His glory and goodness; and in the blue sky, of his mildness and gentleness.” 
                                    Jonathan Edwards

Sunflowers

I love the beginning of fall. The crispness in the air, the turning of the leaves and sunflowers. :) I've been trying to grow sunflowers in my garden for awhile now but with no luck. I've planted seeds but I think the squirrels or birds have gotten to them and my last seedlings didn't take. So I'll try for next year and for now I'll just enjoy the gardens full of sunflowers in other yards. :)

Walking

"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed"
                                                                 Walt Whitman

Vases, Pitchers and Watering Cans

I love bringing flowers into the house and I recently started collecting all sorts of containers. Here's a few beautiful ones I found online. I think they are all great ideas and I'd love to add  all of them to my collection!