Delivering a Rose Bush to a Neighbor

The squirrels and birds let me eat a few of these beauties
every so often. Triple Crown Blackberries.

I had a Veterans Honor rose that we kept stepping on, because it was small and in the wrong place in the rose garden.

I moved it to the Blackberry patch, which was largely neglected. However, Blackberries are aggressive spreaders through the root system, stoloniferous. They wanted to crowd out the rose completely - and any rose wants lots of elbow room.

Veterans Honor is the best pure red rose,
lasting a long time when cut and generous with fragrance.

Our neighbor, at the end of the street, loves roses, and her daughter always wanted to grow them, so I offered my orphan rose.

Today was a good day to transplant. I prepared the rose by soaking it with rainwater yesterday and this morning.

One spot was eliminated because the bulbs were spreading so fast. I cautioned, "Roses want room on each side, no competition." In fact, I have seen roses hurt by grass encroaching their space, so I plan on extra mulched areas around each plant, at least two feet on each side.

The Veterans Honor rose came up from the Blackberry patch with one scoop from my shovel. Being soaked twice in 24 hours helped, and it was not as deeply rooted as one with a long history in the same spot.

I wheel-barrowed it over - two houses away - with a shovel, rose shears, and cow manure. We looked for a new spot and found one away from trees, getting morning sun, but not likely to be roasted in the afternoon.

The soil was dried clay, which got tougher and harder quickly. I did some of the digging and soon the area was ready. The rose, roots, and soil went in together. I pointed out the green branch coming from the main part and snipped some dead wood off the rose. We filled in with potting soil, though the composted cow manure would have worked too.

I suggested a deep, slow drip afterwards and daily watered for a time, including the upper part. Newspaper or cardboard plus pine needles from their pine trees will make a good mulch. Roses favor acid a bit, so fireplace ashes (base, just the opposite) are not a good choice on roses.

Basic Planting Instructions

• When possible soak all bare root and potted plants in rainwater or stored water  - at least a few hours. This gives the plant a good supply of moisture for growing root hairs and getting rooted.
• Roses want to be pruned, so a little snipping of roots and canes will encourage fast rooting and leafing out, New leaves are the sign of success.
• Daily watering of new roses is also a good idea, with attention paid to the canes, which are sponge-like, easily giving up moisture but also responding well to watering.
• Mulching with paper or cardboard - plus leaves or needles or wood mulch - will hold in moisture and build the soil. 
• Do not add chemical fertilizer, but red wiggler earthworms should be dropped on top of the area.
• Autumn leaves are a great way to protect roses for the winter and build up the soil. In New Ulm I bought chicken wire and created a bin holding the leaves around all the roses. They were well protected from drying and freezing wind, and the soil was improved all winter and into the spring.
• The best way to revive roses and help them bloom is to use rainwater. Roses respond in a day or two. If it rains afterwards as well - so much the better.

John 1:3 All things were made by Him;
and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

Coreopsis Jungle at Almost Eden. "Be Still and Know That I AM God."

This Coreopsis meadow photo was taken by someone else.
I am going to take my camera on the next walk to Almost Eden.

Yesterday, Sassy and I took our evening walk toward Almost Eden. The rain clouds were threatening and a cool breeze was making the walk easy. We usually see the Almost Eden Nursery owner with his dog, Opie, in the mornings.

We came upon Almost Eden's Coreopsis garden in full bloom. The area is at least 12 feet long and 4 feet wide.



Coreopsis species coreopsis, tickseed, calliopsis FAMILY Asteraceae (aster) 
• perennial, USDA zones 3–8; some species variation • North American natives • blooms midsummer to fall • 1–6 feet (0.3–1.8 m) high, 1–3 feet (0.3–1 m) wide Called tickseed for their buggy-looking seeds, these North American natives may already have a home in your garden. Several dozen species of coreopsis exist, and quite a few of them are common garden perennials. They have become so popular because of their ease of growth, long flowering period, drought tolerance, deer resistance, and all-around good looks. Nearly all coreopsis are attractive to good bugs of all sorts, including minute pirate bugs, parasitic wasps, soldier beetles, syrphid flies, lacewings, and spiders. I’d like to share with you a handful of my favorite species.


Walliser, Jessica. Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Kindle Locations 2067-2079). Timber Press. Kindle Edition. 

Sassy's interest's were at nose level. She loves the ability to pursue olfactory research around the berm and gardens. I walked up eye level to the tall plants and began looking through the forest of blooms for beneficial insects. Everywhere I looked, various types of bees were working the flowers. Tachinid flies were looking for pollen. Some tiny creatures darted around the stems.

I doubt whether any movie or animation could match the calm, industrious parade of creatures enjoying the yellow and orange flowers. Soon enough the flowers will turn into tickseed, and birds would harvest and spread them. Everyone writes about the superstar sunflower seeds, but Sharon Lovejoy points out that all the flowers produce seed that the birds love to harvest in the late summer.
Rosehips (rose seed pods) are harvested by birds before they become Rosehip Tea or Vitamin C tablets.

Psalm 46:10King James Version (KJV)

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

One of the most calming and inspiring sights is a garden full of flowers and free of toxins, on a still and sunny day, gathering the insects with nectar, pollen, and fruits.

Instead of visiting famous gardens, which we appreciate, we tour our own ever-changing parade of plants and creatures. Rain-barrels have trapped four squirrels, who either fall in or climb in for water (which is everywhere else in the back and front yard). I came in and took off my Tilley hat, placing it over my chest, out of respect.

"What's wrong?"

I said, "We lost Chestnut."

Mrs. Ichabod asked, "How many squirrels have died now?"

I said, "Four:

1. Filbert
2. Walnut
3. Peanut, and now...
4. Chestnut."

One would never know that I buried four squirrels. There is a enviable supply of rabbits and squirrels in the yard, matching the abundance of food, shelter, and fresh water. To make sure Sassy and others have fresh, clean water, I leave a garbage can lid, upside-down, near the outside faucet. When I water, the spray from the leaky connections fills and cleans the shallow containers nearby. Shallow clay dishes are there to hydrate toads and other small creatures

My plants are nowhere near this size -
Chaste Tree is another beneficial insect host.

Rain was threatening this morning, after our walk, so I began to empty the rain-barrels. I was pleased to find the transplanted Chaste Tree (a small bush at the moment) was leafed out. The Chaste Tree needed more sun and less water. Checking the Net, I saw the plant also enjoys pruning and does well when pruned. I cut all the drooping branches back and all are greened up. I could smell its medicinal aroma from a few feet away.

The roses got most of the rainwater - liquid, gentle fertilizer - and Hostas got the rest. Several are in bloom already, and I wanted them doing well for the hummingbirds.

Rosehips are fruits full of seed.

Landmark Megachurch Shrinks 90% in Membership - Overbuilt and Under-Attended. Like Many Lutheran Churches Today. Plum Church Now a Prune, Due to Adultery and Lavish Spending. Charisma Magazine Founded There

Calvary Assembly of God, Orlando, looks ready to jump into action.
In an auditorium built for 5,000 or more, 500 worship.

Declining Florida Megachurch Planning to Sell Part of Church Campus to Reflect Shifting Ministry Focus

A historic Florida megachurch that has seen a large decline in membership over the past few years is considering selling off a portion of its property.

Calvary Assembly of Orlando was founded in the 1950s. Considered one of the first megachurches of the United States, at its peak it had around 7,000 members.

However, steep declines in membership have led Calvary Assembly to consider an offer to sell part of the church's property to a developer.

Ed Garvin, lead pastor of Calvary Assembly, told The Christian Post that since he accepted his position in January 2014, the congregation of about 650 is working on a "revitalization process."

"Part of the revitalization process has been to thoroughly evaluate all of our resources, including our facilities. Our worship center was built in 1987 and seats over 5,500," explained Garvin.

"With the trend among megachurches shifting to smaller auditoriums and multiple services and campuses, one of the options we considered was selling our campus and building a new facility that better reflects our ministry focus."

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/declining-florida-megachurch-planning-sell-part-church-campus-reflect-shifting-ministry-focus-167441/#sZ8rISUh4825WGs1.99

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http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/41019-despite-rumors-calvary-assembly-megachurch-is-not-for-sale

Charisma spun off from Calvary in 1981 as a separate organization, shortly before the late Roy Harthern, then the pastor, stepped down due to moral indiscretions. The history below recounts some of the ups and downs. The church experienced a sort of renaissance under the ministry of both Dr. Mark Rutland and Clark Whitten. But over the years many people left—including me and my wife—and Calvary has struggled to stop that trend.

[GJ - Harthern's daughter married the adulterous Benny Hinn.]

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http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2013/may/three-megachurch-pastors-resign-over-adultery-in-orlando.html

Home > Archives > 2013 > May

PEOPLE; THEOLOGY

Three Megachurch Pastors Resign over Adultery in Orlando

(UPDATED) Discovery Church elders believe David Loveless 'can be restored to ... productive Christian service,' but not as their pastor.

Melissa Steffan

[ POSTED 5/16/2013 03:49PM ]

Flickr / Jared

Update (June 7): Experts say disgraced pastors face a long road back to the pulpit even after they repent, according to the Orlando Sentinel. But the main problem is not lust, but pride.

CT reported when concerns over pride prompted leaves of absence by two high-profile pastors.

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http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2013/may/three-megachurch-pastors-resign-over-adultery-in-orlando.html

The head pastor of one of America's "10 healthiest churches" has resigned after confessing that he committed adultery three years ago.

David Loveless, head pastor of Discovery Church, relinquished his pastoral duties at the Orlando megachurch this month, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

But Loveless is not the only Orlando-area pastor to confess an adulterous relationship lately. In the past six months, two other pastors, Summit Church's Isaac Hunter and The Gathering Place's Sam Hinn, also resigned.

According to a statement released by Discovery Church's elders, Loveless's affair ended approximately three years ago. However, he only made it known to church leaders within the past few weeks. 

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WELS-ELS-ELCA-LCMS Chase  an Illusion

 A quick trip to a Pentecostal Church will reveal what the Lutherans covet and copy. They think the Pentecostals have all the answers and they want those shiny castles more than David wanted Delilah.

What I saw a few years ago had more to do with commercialism than religion at a Pentecostal church:

A coffee bar.

An ATM for giving outside the entertainment area.

An auditorium rather than a church.

A stage rather than a chancel.

Secular music.

Parking valet "ministry." 

This mega-church in Orlando built too large a building, a cathedral that matched the ego or insecurity of one pastor. Then Benny Hinn's father-in-law came along and got the enormous mortgage paid off while having an affair with a church member.

As 29A has said to me, "I work with a lot of pagans who do everything you can imagine, but they have no use for clergy who are unfaithful."

Huge buildings are supposed to be magnets that draw the masses, as Robert Schuller claimed before his own castle went bankrupt. The carillon dedicated to his wife no longer worked, because the Schuller staff lacked or mis-spent the money for repairs.

Church leaders of all denominations are so materialistic and greedy that they imagine everything "works" except teaching the doctrine of the Bible. That doctrine is an adiaphoron when popcorn, soda, and entertainment are clearly what the masses seem to desire for the moment.

As WELS has shown, adulterous and abusive ministers leave a trail of destruction, hidden only for a short time by their glamorous and deceptive PR. The officials do not care. As Mrs. Ichabod observed, "They must be adulterers too."

Just don't question them. Then you will discover the meaning of "The Wrath of God."