Look Closer

 The garden is truly moving into fall now. I've lost some plants - a great clearance rack score on perfectly white columbine bit the dust, literally, in the dry spell we've been in. And I remember why I don't grow vegetables, now that my gourd vines have given in to powdery mildew. How sad!  I still have one gourd vine kicking - a swan-necked gourd vine!  I am hopeful that the mildew will not travel down the garden, from one tepee to another, killing the swan-necks. The hydrangeas have been through their daily droops from the heat, and a couple of plants are producing some fall blooms. The annabelles are turning brown around the edges now, away from their wonderful apple-y green color.

And the zinnias are putting on their show! Just like Labor Day fireworks, these are blooming and blooming out there, right where I can see them while washing dishes.

Up close, each one has its own charm. I love the red, upward-reaching petals of this one, its crown of gold only just visible.

This lovely salmon color - one of only a few in the bed this year, made up of  mostly reds and purples.

I'm not really a PINK girl, but this one and only pink zinnia really was a 

stand-out. 

It's worth an extra click to see the close-up. Now can you see how the bottoms of the petals look like they've been sprinkled with glitter? 

Is that amazing or what! 

The velvety center has all the rolled up baby petals still emerging ...

gold crown bits popping out in an encircling ring ...

dark pink pieces look like flames as they unfold.

 Beautiful! 

Is our Lord interested in the details, or not? Looking at the artistic detail in this single bloom and admiring the craftsmanship on display here encourages me that He is! If the Master Gardener cares so much about creating beauty in this most lowly of garden flowers, then certainly He is big enough to be in control of what concerns me, bringing beauty where none is likely.

So look even more closely when you walk your gardens - remember with me that God is at work in the smallest of details. His character is on display.

 As a father has compassion on his children, 

   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.  The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;  the wind blows    over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.  But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Psalm 103:13-18

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?    

Matthew 6:30