The Master Gardener

Is this an exotic Orchid?

A prized Hybrid Rose?

A Blue Ribbon-winning Daisy?

A rare, lacy flower grown in an English garden?

The answer to all of those questions is, of course, "No."

The "exotic Orchid" is a Honeysuckle blossom, which can be found in abundance this time of year growing along rural fence rows and ditches ...

I found the "prized Rose" growing on the side of a country road near Vicksburg, its tangled vines climbing high up into the trees overhead ...

I was delighted with such colorful lagniappe, and braved the tall grass, ant beds, and briars to capture the beautiful little clusters of roses up close.

The "Blue Ribbon Daisy" was in the midst of this little clump of wild daisies growing around a bend and down the road from the wild roses ...

And that lacy flower wasn't growing in a fancy English garden. It, too, was on the side of the road, towering above a patch of red clover ...

This time of year, most gardens are at their loveliest, carefully tended by flower and plant lovers all over the world ... but none of them, no matter how grand and lush, can hold a candle to God's gardens. He is truly the Master Gardener of all time — and His gardens are open year-round, 24/7, and there's no charge for the tours. I hope you will visit one near you soon.

A Small Town House and Garden Tour

I'd like to thank our gracious hostess Susan at A Southern Daydreamer, for taking the time to host our "Outdoor Wednesdays."

Yesterday I drove to a little town called Crystal Springs, Mississippi, which is about an hour's drive southeast of Vicksburg. It was my first visit to Crystal Springs, and I really didn't know what to expect, which always makes my exploring more fun.

The thing that impressed me most were the beautiful old houses lining the streets leading to the downtown business district. They reminded me of houses you see on post cards or calendars ... not really what you think of as elaborate or grand ... but oh, so pretty and "homey" looking. There were picket fences and flower gardens, swings and benches, arbors and trellises, and gazing balls and bottle trees. Everywhere I looked there was something beckoning me to "come sit a spell."

Like this pretty yellow house with its side-yard garden (you can click on the pictures to enlarge them, if you'd like) ...

And backyard flower gardens reminiscent of our grandmothers' gardens ...

This house was built in 1859 ...

I love these colorful bottle trees ...

This beautiful transparent gazing ball was in a rose garden on a side street ...

Isn't it beautiful!
It looks like a giant bubble resting on the roses ...

I love this old-fashioned looking arbor welcoming guests up the steps, and the two colorful Japanese Maples ...

Isn't that a pretty door on this little house,
and I love the old bench on the porch ...

My camera couldn't capture the peaceful, nostalgic aura surrounding these old houses and yards, but I felt it. And you can, too ... in small towns all across America. All you have to do is look for it.