Deadly

Looks can be deceiving! These mushrooms I came across looked delicious; except they are potentially deadly, especially if uncooked.
Commonly known as the Brain Mushroom because of its much wrinkled, typically reddish-brown cap, Gyromitra esculenta is one of the more distinctive members of the "False Morel" group.
Many of these plant-life in nature, also have medicinal value. They can be life-giving or destructive.
It reminds me of the text in James 3:8; “But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men.”

Parenthood

This month, the city has seen two teenage girls stabbed to death in separate drinking parties.
Then there’s the report of a “party bus” full of drunk under-aged kids that were given a warning after one of the inebriated girls fell off the moving bus.
The thing that troubles me most is the role that parents played in these tragedies – not once did an adult step up to take responsibility. Who hosted these parties? Who allowed alcohol to be served to minors and why was no adult charged in any of these incidents?
The driver and adult chaperones on the bus were interviewed and released.

The role that parents play in the overall growth and development of a child can never be more important than in these turbulent times.

Nature has a way of reminding us of our parenting responsibilities.
They say that Mallard Ducks stay together for life. When the Male Mallard goes looking for food; the mother stays home to guard and take care of the brood. I have bird houses set up in my backyard for chickadees and they occasionally trust the integrity of my wooden creations to set up nest. Lately, a pair of chickadees picked one of the houses and soon I could hear the chirping of little birds whenever I got close to it.

Yesterday I attempted to take some pictures of the little ones and see how they are doing. What frustrated me was the little chicks turned their backs on me each time I pointed my camera lens into the tiny entrance. I was also amazed by the protective nature of their tiny parents. One would buzz me while the other maintained his sentry post – chirping out a distinct warning each time I ventured near.
The only people who seem to have nothing to do with the education of the children are the parents. G.K. Chesterton

Iris

Iris is a genus of 260 species of flowering plants with showy multi-colored flowers . It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species.
In North America, a common name for irises is 'flags.'This flower reminds me about the character and promises of God.
One of the first covenants with mankind is found in the rainbow – a promise that God will not destroy mankind with global flooding ever again.

The colours of the rainbow also speaks of his multi-coloured grace that is poured out upon us daily.

One of the names of God used in the Old testamnet is Jehovah “Nissi” meaning ‘the Lord is our Banner.’

Clematis

Welcome to my Secret garden!

I love spending time in my backyard secret garden – it brings me endless hours of joy and satisfaction seeing the plants spring up and flowers exploding all over the place.
We’ve been inundated by rain the last few weeks and it has dampened my spirit somewhat. However much time I get in the garden still makes me stand in awe and amazement at the miracle of growth and complexity of nature.
One my favourite flowering plant in the garden is the Clematis. This climbing vine has over 200 species and an unknown number of cultivars. The showy flowers come in many colours and sizes and require little to no maintenance. Due to my love for them, I have nine species of Clematis growing over my arbour, the high trellis and in pots.
The five species of Clematis I have planted around my arbor has climbed to the top and their intermingling flowers creat a mosaic of clolours and texture that is artsy and inspiring.

It took me ten years of careful planting, and now I am enjoying the fruits of my labour.

A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life. James Allen Like my lush and beautiful garden, we are what we cultivate.