Roses and Peonies

Roses and Peonies are two of my favorite flowers and they're both in full bloom right now:) You'll probably be seeing lots more of these around here.

Climbing Roses

Peonies

The strawberry are almost ripe as well :)

[Insert a sunny title here]

No words of wisdom today, just sunshine and flowers. Happy Father's day everyone!

Brushstrokes of a Flower

I had thought to get some photos of something other than trees and flowers, just for variety, but somehow I ended up with all flowers. Perhaps I am still enchanted by the newness of them, the winter did seem very long there at the end, or maybe its more than that.

My dad once said that he couldn't understand how anyone could look at a flower and not believe in God.

The intricacy of God's design amazes me; from the beginning of creation, even before Adam was breathed into life, the stars were set in motion so that three wise men would be lead to Bethlehem. And yet we have no need to look to the stars for signs of His existence, His presence can be made clear in a simple flower.  Large or small they are each delicately formed to fulfill the tasks they were designed for. They feed insects of many sorts while preparing for their own next generation. And yet for all that they are purely functional they are also incredibly beautiful. The variety in color, shape, and size is beyond cataloging. I know of no culture in history that hasn't had some regard for flowers. I really don't see how there could be one unless they have no flowers at all.

Really I think flowers must be reason enough to find the idea of evolution to be a ridiculous one. How could something so delicate have evolved from, well, nothing much at all? And with so many creatures depending on a simple flower it seems strange that it should have come about without careful thought and planing. Every thing in our world is so delicately balanced that it couldn't passably be an accident.

Its a little like learning about a painter from studying his work I suppose, you could easily learn a great deal about the artist from the way he paints and the subjects he chooses. But most of us don't study art much. I appreciate God's work enough to recognise it but I don't know nearly enough to truly comprehend its every meaning. But then we never really will understand it all will we? But we can love it, love Him, more for what we do know. And really is it so very hard to love the one who created flowers?

Gray Days and Growing Things

Gray. Thats the word that comes to mind when I think about the last ten days. Gray skies, gray rain, and the hazy gray mood of lethargy. A bit dramatic? Maybe, but its hard to get motivated when the world is so, well, gray. Oh we've seen the sun a bit this month,  for maybe five minutes at a time. I don't like taking photos when its like this, all the color gets washed out and everything ends up looking rather dull and...gray. I had thought that the sun was coming out for a bit when I went out but soon found that I was mistaken. I might have gone back in the house and put it off for another day but then I began finding the early promise of summer's fruits and new flowers replacing spring's scattered blossoms. I still long for the sun but the gray skies have not stopped the creeping arrival of summer.

The last of the lilacs are fast fading, under one I found the ground covered over with pale purple flowers that had been knocked loose. I wonder if the fairies are getting ready for a dance, the only thing that could make the place more perfect for them would be some nice mossy patches.

I found these little ones quiet on accident, I gave their mother a scare as I passed, I didn't get much of a look at her so I have no idea what sort of bird they are. I'll have to keep an eye on them as they grow. 

The orchard is already preparing for summer and fall harvests...

Apples

Cherries

Black Caps, also known as Black Raspberries

Strawberries 

Rose bud

Bridal Bouquet or Bridal Wreath 

I honestly don't know what these are, they just stared growing in our ditch ;)

The gray skies are still depressing but there is always something bright to be found around the farm if you go looking for it. Besides, with summer taking over I expect I'll soon wish for a relief from the sun and the heat that goes with it. Until then I will just have to make the best of gray, hopefully I can avoid starting out so depressingly nextime :)