From The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Being Good Friday it is only logical to take a look at the Ultimate Gardener. And I'm calling Jesus the 'Ultimate Gardener' because if we measured our gardening skills against his, we would all fall far short of his talents.
I know some of you are already thinking I've entered 'wacko' stage - Jesus wasn't a gardener! If anything we might get some carpentry tidbits from the Messiah but gardening, now there's another dimension. But, like all people in the spotlight these days, they all seem to have multi-facets. Take Jamie Oliver for example. TV Chef, restaurateur, writer, saviour of healthy school lunches etcetera, etcetera. He is now a gardening expert as well.
Fortunately, Jesus' skills didn't come because of his celebrity status. He had those very early on. If you're trying hard to follow me then stick around and I'll share some examples of his gardening acumen.
Firstly, if you ascribe to the Creation theory, of which I am a proponent, then you will notice that life on earth started in a garden. For those who like to go back to grass-roots gardening then doing it in the buff is certainly not as unnatural as one might think - check here and here.
In God's first piece of gardening advice he told the man and woman to;
"...fill the earth and subdue it." Gen 1:28b [NIV]
As gardeners we all know that this is our greatest challenge - subduing the earth. Leave it unattended for a week or two and you will notice how well you're going with subduing nature!
We all know that no gardener is worth their 'salt' unless of course they can tend plants well. Anyone can stick a plant in the ground, but it's a gardener who can help it grow. Here's Jesus' gardening tips on planting fig trees;
Then Jesus told this story: "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It's just taking up space in the garden.' "The gardener answered, 'Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:6-9 [NLT]
It's one thing to give a plant a second chance - quite another to know when it is time to remove the darned thing. Jesus timing was always impeccable. I'm far too merciful with my plants hoping that they might just come good one day. Jesus realised that some plants weren't worth their time in the garden and he dealt with them swiftly.
In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, He was hungry, and He noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then He said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up. Mat 21:18-19 [NLT]
Quicker than trying to dig it up and mulch it!
Gardeners can sometimes get all worked up about their gardens that they often forget to take time and enjoy the fruits of their labour. Jesus understood the value of gardens, plants and flowers and extolled their virtues whenever he could. Take this tidbit he shared at a conference for a few thousand people;
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Mat 6:27-30 [NLT]
Only sometimes will a gardener thank, or even attribute their gardening acumen, to those who have come before. Jesus knew the pecking order and often pointed upwards when asked of his tutelage. Here's an example;
"I am the true grapevine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of Mine that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. Joh 15:1-4 [NLT]
This isn't where it ends. Jesus was a font of gardening knowledge and had many things to share. Take these for example;
Jesus was the complete package - the Ultimate Gardener. If you haven't got his latest gardening book
The creek today: the flooding usually lasts just a day
Not looking or feeling the least like springBill Hole’s State of the Industry
A recent trip to watch our daughter play basketball made me act like something I haven’t been in a very long time: a regular consumer. Away from my everyday job where I normally analyze all my decisions, I found myself reacting to all the same marketing ploys that regular consumers do. It wasn’t until I arrived home and thought about the weekend’s events that I realized just how important first impressions are. What did I feel like when I first entered the hotel, café, gymnasium or airport, and how did it guide my willingness to spend time and money? The answers became very clear when I thought about where we decided to eat. The name, the sign, the windows and the sidewalk all had a great affect on me. If I didn’t feel good about them, I didn’t try the restaurant. It was all about the superficial packaging instead of the food. Wow, how’s that for being a typical consumer!
Hits & Misses: Sweet success & slackers
Question of the Week: Is it time to prune my trees?
The Business: Bring on spring!
The Path to Enjoy 2009: Integration
Having just read the latest newsletter from the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), it struck me that all of us are mere dilettantes when it comes to the produce we eat. Our plant diet is pretty much corn, wheat, rice and potatoes—with a few greens scattered in for good measure. If you don’t believe me, check the list of ingredients on the next package of food you buy. I can virtually guarantee that one of the Big 4 is on the label. As the one ISHS article on food plants of Peru illustrated, many of that country’s indigenous tuberous root vegetables are unknown to North Americans. We are very familiar with the potato here in Canada, but have you heard of the other Peruvian tubers? How about arracacha, achira, yacon, macka or ahipa. No? Then what about ulluco, oca, mashua or maca. They are all Peruvian food staples that I’ve never heard of, let alone seen. The sad thing is that many of us will never have the pleasure of tasting these foods because the Big 4 have become so dominant in our culture. Who knows? If the world really is becoming more global, maybe someday soon we will be ordering macka fries at Macdonald’s. Hmm…on second thought.
Hits & Misses
Hit: Sweet Success
So far, I’m pretty impressed with the ‘Sweetunias’ that we are growing in hanging baskets. They have a nice, compact growth habit and are already starting to bloom. One variety called ‘Soft Pink Morning’ is aptly named because its delicate colour makes one think of warm, summer mornings on the back deck with coffee in hand…yes, believe it or not, those days are coming.
Miss: SlackersI
don’t know why it is so annoying, but when one or two shrub roses out of several hundred fails to grow, it is like a tiny sliver stuck in your forefinger—not a big deal but irritating nonetheless. I suppose another analogy would be getting 98% on an exam but dwelling on the one or two questions that you got wrong…not that I have the foggiest idea of what that would feel like!
Question of the Week
Is it time to prune my trees?
Well, that depends. When it comes to broken, diseased, dying or dead branches, it’s always open season. Just remember that there is only one way to make a proper pruning cut on a tree, and that’s by leaving a 1-cm “collar” on the trunk where the branch was. No long stubs. No cuts flush to the trunk. As for general pruning, there’s a fairly easy rule to remember: if you want maximum flower production, prune spring-blooming shrubs in early summer, and prune summer-blooming shrubs in early spring. For example, lilacs and flowering plums bloom in spring (prior to June 20th) and should be pruned shortly after they finish blooming so that next year’s flowerbuds have time to form during the summer. Shrub roses, on the other hand, should be pruned in early spring because the flowers are formed on the shoots that develop during the spring. I would have to say though that the best thing about this rule is that even if you get mixed up and prune the wrong plant at the wrong time, you won’t ruin its health—you’ll just be forced to enjoy its foliage rather than its flowers.
Always leave a 1-cm “collar” when you prune branches.
The Business
Bring on Spring!
Spring is officially here, and although our Garden Centre and Indoor Plant area remain open all year, we are now counting down the days until we fire into full gear and open all the seasonal areas of the greenhouse. Watch for more updates as we near our official opening, scheduled the week of April 21st.
The Path to Enjoy 2009
Integration
When I brought chief architect Ernst von Meijenfeldt to see our new development site last fall, he saw the same thing we did: a beautiful undulating location. Thrilled with the location and that we wanted to retain the natural splendour of the land, Ernst began talking about the importance of the landscape and building working together. Recently, I heard Ernst speak at a Jung Forum, where he reiterated how important it was to complement and enhance the land one builds on. It was truly inspiring—especially when he recited this quote from Frank Lloyd Wright: “No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together, each the happier for the other.” I think that says it all.
Did You Know?
A 100 kilogram log contains 45 kilograms of carbon.
“Grass is the cheapest plant to install and the most expensive to maintain.”
–Pat Howell
