Fickle February

February in Texas is a puzzle, even to us natives.  The weather shifts quickly, so we learn to keep a jacket, hat and gloves in the truck!  Just because the thermometer reads 65 degrees at lunchtime is no reason to expect the same conditions at four o’clock.  Over the last two weeks, we have been in the twenties and seventies within the same few days.  The winter has been mild, but that is no reason to think that winter is over.  Spring will come, but in the meantime we watch the weather reports and check the Farmer’s Almanac one more time.

Here in the garden, winter chores continue while daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses bloom.  Kenny Tapp, the artisan who created the Zebulun gate, recently completed the side posts and metal ropes for the gate.  This morning, Jesus and James installed the new posts.  The Zebulun gate is now complete and even more beautiful than before.  Our thanks to Kenny and our wonderful Zebulun partners from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who generously provided the materials for this project!

If you watched the web cast on Sunday, you were blessed by James Vincent’s timely and prophetic message about building the house.  Progress on the potting shed continues on the inside now, and we eagerly await its completion.  Soon we will be landscaping around the house, establishing the southeastern boundary of the Gentile garden.  This building process has been a joy to behold!

We have also greeted three new tenants on the east side of the Gentile garden: a rooster named Peter and two hens, Dorcas and Lydia.  The story of our little chicken family requires more time than I have available right now, so I’ll dedicate a whole post to them another day. Jesus and Daniel built them a roomy chicken yard.  The hens have already begun laying eggs.  I’ll let you know when–and if–we have chicks!

The Lord continues to bless us with rain.  Over the weekend, the rain gauge registered one and a half inches.  The area lakes and groundwater continue to recharge.  God is good.

Bless you all!

Winter Chores Part Two

We are using the term “winter” loosely in this part of the world right now!  Even though we still have six more weeks until the official start of spring, we are enjoying spring-like conditions here in north Texas.  We are taking advantage of the weather to prepare for the true arrival of spring.  It won’t be long until the garden is awash in the fresh greens, blues and yellows of spring.  Until that happens, work continues on the potting shed, the new arbor entrance in Asher, and the assault on winter weeds.  The Canada geese continue their daily visits to the garden, and after another bountiful rainfall yesterday, they will have even more excuses to cruise the landscape!

Shabbat Shalom!

Water, Water, Everywhere!

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you–the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month” (Joel 2:23).

Starting last Tuesday evening, we received six inches of rain within 36 hours in the Israel Prayer Garden.  By Wednesday afternoon, the Canada geese thought the garden was a lake.  God is good, and we receive this precious gift from His hand with rejoicing.  By the time I took these photographs, the water had already started to percolate into the thirsty ground on Thursday morning.  Enjoy the show!

Winter Chores

Ecclesiastes 3 says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”  For gardeners, winter is the time for the chores suited to colder temperatures and the dormancy of plants.  Like sleeping dogs and children, we leave the plants alone during their sleepy time, just checking to make sure they’re still breathing from time to time!  While the sun is forgiving and the weeds are taking a welcome break, we focus on jobs that might be more challenging during the eager planting of spring or the oppressive heat of summer.  Now is the time to build a new potting shed, crank up the chipper, and prepare new beds for planting.  Now is the time to rebuild the compost windrow in anticipation of the need for soil amendments.  And here in north Texas, now is the time to start vegetable seedlings inside, plant onions and potatoes outside, and place one more order for those hard-to-find transplants from the plant catalog.  Spring will be here in a moment.  We want to be ready!

Shalom, y’all!

Before and After

On this chilly, rainy day, I decided to review my photographs from the past year in the Israel Prayer Garden.  It’s hard to believe that the garden we now enjoy was an overgrown, neglected piece of earth just ten months ago.  I have done my best to select some before and after photos of the garden for you to enjoy.  Of course, you can always go back to the beginning of this blog if you want to review what God accomplished in the garden in such a short amount of time.  And I’ll enjoy listening to the rain on my roof!

Welcoming Winter

One of the lovely things about living in Texas is the winter.  Yes, it does get cold–sometimes.  And, yes, ice and snow can wreak havoc, as we discovered last year during the Super Bowl.  But while our friends up north are shoveling snow and pulling on the long underwear, we are enjoying stretches of spring-like weather and skies so blue it makes you cry!  Last week was one of those stretches.  As we took down the lights and restored the garden to its unadorned state, we were blessed with chilly mornings followed by warm afternoons.  Flocks of robins descended on the garden in all their cheerful chirpiness, woodpeckers crept up the bare trunks of the oak trees in search of lunch, and the bluebirds flashed through the leafless trees.  We know that cold weather will return, but when the sky is so blue and the air is warm enough for a short-sleeved shirt, it’s easy to imagine spring!  While we wait, we continue to plant trees and prepare for the arrival of grapevines for Asher.

Shabbat Shalom!

Light of the World

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5).

During this season of celebration, we give thanks that the Holy Spirit has opened our eyes to the truth of the Gospel.  His light dispels the darkness of sin and condemnation and opens the door to revelation and restoration.  As we lit the menorah in the garden for the first time during the Festival of Lights, we rejoiced that we are partakers of the light.  May the Light of the World–Jesus–shine on you in a whole new way this season.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas from Texas,

Pam and the Israel Prayer Garden Crew

Frosty Beginnings

On days like today, when the nighttime temperatures dip into the twenties, I miss the triple-digit heat of the dependable Texas summer!  Winter gloves are cumbersome, and pruning back perennial foliage is precise work requiring more dexterity than those gloves provide.  When fall wanders into winter territory before its time, I turn to the book of Job for consolation:

Does the rain have a father?  Who fathers the drops of dew?  From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen? 

In spite of the fact that cold weather is a challenge for me in every possible way, I take comfort in knowing that God has His reasons for winter.  As we continue putting the garden to bed for the cold months ahead, I can trust that this time of rest will produce good fruit.  Spring will come again, and with it the new growth from plants made stronger because of this dormant season.  And as I wait for spring–even before winter has officially arrived–I can rejoice in the faithfulness of God, who makes all things beautiful in every season in His garden.

Shalom!

Oh, Give Thanks Unto the Lord!

As Thanksgiving dinner fades slowly into memory–aided by an overloaded digestive system–I want to take the time to thank our generous Father for all of His gifts.  Since my first blog post back in March, we have witnessed restoration and transformation in the Israel Prayer Garden that transcended drought, heat, wind, and time.  During this season of thanksgiving, when we pause to express our thanks for family, friends, and freedom, I want to thank all of those who have given time, plants, labor, gifts, and prayer to see God’s vision come to pass on this little piece of earth in Corinth, Texas.  As the garden enters its well-earned season of rest, we bid a temporary farewell to the heat loving flowers and their pollinating partners and we say hello to the subdued colors of fall and winter.  Soon the garden will be hung with lights in preparation for the Festival of Lights.  Before the decorating begins, here is one more look at the garden on a welcome rainy day earlier this week.  Thank you, Father, for rain, and we trust that more is on the way as we prepare for the sabbath.

Shabbat Shalom!

Changing Seasons in the Garden

Since my last post on November 2, we have been experiencing the changing of seasons in the garden.  We had our first frost, another welcome shower, and a visit from the Denton County AgriLife Extension Horticulturist, Janet Laminack.  Next week, members of the Denton County Master Gardeners Spring Garden Tour Committee will pay us a visit, as well.  They start planning and preparing well in advance for the May garden tour.

So much is happening, inside and out, here at Global Spheres that I have just a few moments to post a few pictures.  Hope you have enjoyed your Shabbat as much as I did!

Shalom, y’all,

Pam