We have an "urban garden" in our Los Angeles backyard and I love it. Taking care of it from day to day is very satisfying and it's a lot of fun to see what grows. I'll have another post in the future with more information about our garden, but today I wanted to share a creative solution I came up with this past week.
Because we have a long growing season (no imminent danger of frost) here in southern California, my garden boxes are still pretty full, but I wanted to start some fall plants anyway. A while ago I found a great deal on some butternut and acorn squash seeds so I started them as seedlings while I waited for our other plants to finish putting out the last fruits of the season. The picture below is of butternut squash seedlings.
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| Soakin' up the sun! |
Because squash plants can grow to be so large, I didn't want to crowd the whole garden bed with squash (I learned this lesson the hard way with zucchini, but I digress) so I set aside a large planter for one of these plants. And this is what happened when I presented it with it's brand new, big, beautiful home.
This happened within minutes of me giving it the keys and signing on the dotted line! It shriveled up in the hot sun and pouted (in the plant's defense, it was in a much shadier part of the garden before). Mr. Butternut Squash threw a big plant temper tantrum! Well, I totally gave in to those antics and quickly went to work making sure the new house got an upgrade in the form of a covered patio. This, by the way, is the latest thing in plant houses and soon everyone will have one. Disclaimer: there is no proof for my previous statement, I just made it up. Good, I got that off my chest.
During the summer, I needed a trellis for another plant so naturally, I bought a tomato cage (it was A LOT cheaper) and then took it apart to make three trellises. I grabbed two of those to create a frame (see photo below) and then attached a towel with some clothes pins and......
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| Getting creative.... |
Voila! A new, state-of-the-art covered plant patio! Doesn't this just look hilarious? I get a little giggle every time I see it.
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| The creative solution! |
During the hottest part of the day, Mr. Butternut Squash stays all covered up in his swanky new digs, but when the day cools off, I remove the towel so he gets some sunlight. Now he is happy and content and will hopefully, one day produce delicious squash! You may be wondering, "Amy, why did you do all this when you could've moved the plant to the shade - duh!" Well, I have an answer to that. The garden is on a sprinkler system and squash and all cucurbits need mucho H2O so the planter needed to be close enough to hook into the system. (Don't worry State of California, it is a drip system which conserves water and I keep my plants on a weight control water diet.)
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| It's feeling much better now. |
This whole experience is a little silly and dramatized, but it got me thinking about the wonderful gift of God's grace, care and comfort in our time of need. This plant needed to be covered, sheltered and taken care of so it could become strong and grow to produce it's fruit. How often do we ask the same thing of God? He reminds us in II Corinthians 12:9 that,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
My plant was unhappy in his situation - hot and hungry, its leaves told me it was crying out for shelter and help and so I gave it shelter and food. In circumstances that I don't understand or new and uncomfortable situations, I often want immediate comfort and shelter and sometimes I want to shrivel up and throw my own plant temper tantrum, but I need to remember, as we all do, that I am covered by God's grace and He will supply all my needs.
"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
One final thought about my plant experience last week. Mr. Butternut Squash really needed to get enough food to grow and flourish. Likewise, we need to "get enough" spiritual food to grow and flourish. This is best described in John 15: 5-8
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
Have a fruitful day!
Amy
