ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Norma Boeckler's home is along the river, but above it. She has gone through a number of floods before. This is the worst one, started by the Edensville Dam, which was not maintained properly. That earthen dam failed completely and the Sanford Dam overflowed. Some say Sanford failed, but that is not clear. Those dams contributed to the highest flooding ever in the aftermath of heavy rains.
Norma phoned this morning to tell us about the evacuations and her staying with relatives. We were in Midland for the 1986 flood and know about subsequent floods that damaged her basement.
This has displaced thousands of people in the area and tremendous property damage. The Grace Dow Library, where Norma had a book signing, just completed a multi-million dollar renovation from the last flood. The basement is flooded again.
The strange construction in the foreground is called The Tridge.
The area is quite flat overall, so many key locations are flooded or in danger of higher water:
The Dow Chemical Plant and chemical storage areas;
The Midland Hospital complex, which depends on a flood wall;
Downtown Midland;
Various churches, such as Holy Scripture, ELS, which was waist-deep in the sanctuary and the parsonage.
Water was waste-deep earlier today at Holy Scripture. Pastor and Mrs. Paul Schneider had to be rescued. Authorities predicted another 4 feet before the flood peaked.
Spirea Neon Flash
Early in Springdale gardening, I bought 17 spirea bushes (about $1.50 each) to form a green wall around the garden. The neighbor teen was happy to dig the holes for the small starts, and I planted them.
Since then the bushes have not been impressive, but I knew they were good for the Creation Garden - bug hideouts, bird food, roots to improve the soil.
Suddenly the bushes were big and in bloom at once - neon is a good name for the way the tiny blooms glow. Creation gardeners know that tiny flowers are good for tiny, beneficial insects.
God often does the most with the least, as Luther observed. The great, mighty, and wise have their glory in this age, the faithful in the Age To Come.
One couple in the neighborhood goes to church faithfully. They enjoy having a prayer when Sassy and I stop to visit. They spread out food for the birds each day. They have constant medical bills, and yet they offered me food to take home.
Ephesians 6
The other surprise was the Sword of the Lord piercing the soil. The initial point was not impressive. After the rain, the glads had their sword-like leaves stretched upward. Gladiators are remembered for their swords, and so are gladiolas. I remember, as a young lad, seeing the image of a sword at church and Spiritus Gladius under it. "What's that?" Answer - "That means the Spirit is a sword." I did not understand. That was the weapon used by Christian when he battled Apolleon in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.
Glads seem so glorious in display that people probably think of the name being an emotion rather than a weapon.
Gardening Shift
If people watch the Net and read their emails, they will see the shift in supplies and sales. Roses and herbs like Joe Pye - sold out.
However, that also means clearance sales for bare root roses, half the price for getting a rainbow selection.
Glad "bulbs" can be bought late. They are really corms, meaning the flower is not as formed as completely as it is in tulips and daffodils. Glads can be planted in staggered rows, to have a continuous supply, so they are still available at this point. They grow fast, are spectacular in bloom, and cost very little.
Fall Bulbs
Fall bulbs are being promoted early, especially for those enjoying last year's bulbs in bloom. Early sales often offer great prices and better choice.
I favor daffodils and grape hyacinths for this area. Tulips have not shown up well. Real hyacinths look like small, colored bottle brushes and only look good the first year - and they are expensive.
Grape hyacinths are small and inexpensive. They multiply over the years and serve as markers for bulbs that emerge later.
Autumn Planting
Most people are done with gardening when summer is over, but that is a great time for starting bushes, shrubs, and small trees. Equipment is sold at discounts in the fall, as if spring will never come again.
Shrubs pay us well for waiting. I have several sets showing off their potential now.
Clethra has various nicknames based on its remarkable fragrance - Summersweet, Ruby Spice.
Clethra has tiny flowers for butterflies and pollinators, but its best feature is its ability to exude a sweet cinnamon fragrance - not close up so much as 10 feet away. I tell people to stand in the driveway and wait for the breeze.
I love the name of Jesus,
Immanuel, Christ, the Lord;
like fragrance on the breezes
his name abroad is poured.
Chaste Tree has such brilliant blue flowers that neighbors ask, "What is that?"
