Category: Gardening

A Time For Everything

My next door neighbor made a comment to me last week that I’ve been happily pondering ever since. She said she is always amazed that from early spring to late fall, I have something blooming in my yard. My mother would be proud, since this was a goal she always worked towards and she instilled the same desire in me.

This morning, as the sun was coming up, I took this photo of the irises growing just outside my kitchen door. They started their full bloom only yesterday, and the one at the top left is in the process of unfurling. I love this time of year!

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A Spirituality of Place

For the last three days, I’ve been trying to find the time to get this post up. Between work, school, and keeping up with yard work, I’ve barely had two minutes. Until now.

A few days ago, I posted on the Ignatian principle of Finding God In All Things. Over the last several years, I’ve been able to successfully integrate this spiritual concept into my daily living. Well, most days…

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Finding God In All Things

In my Spirituality in the Workplace course this week, we’re taking a look at one of the central principles of Ignatian Spirituality, “finding God in all things.”

This principle developed out of a mystical experience Ignatius had early in his spiritual journey.

Gardening Ignatian Spirituality Inspiration Prayer

A Sign Of Things To Come

After what seems like forever, the snow is almost gone from my backyard. Beginning yesterday, I started my annual clean-up process, and I continued it this afternoon. Since we had such a crazy winter, it’s going to take me some time to get it all done.

Just as I was finishing up for today, I noticed that my little patch of snowdrops had begun their annual bloom. If you have to know, the correct name for these little gems is Galanthus Ikariae, and they were originally planted long ago by the former owners of my house.

Gardening Ignatian Spirituality Inspiration

Longing For Springtime

With plenty of ice and snow on the ground, the weather people are telling us to prepare for another round of winter weather. I wonder who the patron saint of spring might be. We need his/her help, and soon.

As I was walking around the nearly frozen pond at a retreat center a few weeks ago, I thought about how beautiful the grounds are there in spring. I got to thinking about the bulbs just below the solidly frozen topsoil, covered in snow.

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Summertime Travels

I’ve been lucky to have travelled a bit this summer, more than usual.

I had the chance to make it out to my home state twice, and both times I visited some new places, including Old Mission Santa Barbara, founded on December 4, 1786 and the tenth of twenty-one missions founded throughout California by the Franciscans.

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Almost July

rose

Boy, time flies. I’m sorry for the long delay between posts. The past month has been, how shall I say it… trying.

My classes were great this year, and after staying down at Catholic University for three weeks, I came home to a lot of catch up, both for my job and for my yard.

Gardening Ignatian Spirituality Inspiration Prayer

A Spirituality of Place

I just got back from finishing up another residency component for my doctoral studies. All I can say is it’s good to be home.

Although I really enjoyed my time in Washington DC, I was ready to sleep in my own bed, pray in my own garden, cook my own meals.

Gardening Inspiration Prayer

Happy Mother’s Day

A few days ago, I noticed that the first blooms on my roses this year would be on one of my new bushes, the Abraham Lincoln.

As best I can recall, I don’t ever remember a time when my mom didn’t grow an Abraham Lincoln rosebush. It’s a very strong plant, and produces florist quality, long-stemmed and highly fragrant red buds. Just beautiful, and it’s easy for me to see why she loved it.

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What Are You Tending?

Happy May Day! The picture above and the guest post below are from Spirit Daily, a website I visit often. Given my recent posts about my own garden, I thought the post does a great job of taking garden imagery and adapting it for spiritual insights. I hope you’ll think the same.