After the Rain...New Signs of Growth

The other day I wrote a post on my blog entitled "Signs of Growth", speaking about growth both in the physical as well as the spiritual sense.  In that story I had mentioned that I was a bit frustrated that I was not seeing many signs of growth in my yard or in the trees I had planted since moving to our new home in the woods.  It's been a very dry spring, and it was taking constant watering to keep things growing. However, we have just had about 48 hours of consistent rain, thanks to tropical storm "Beryl", and tonight I took a walk around my yard and discovered many new "signs of growth" in the natural sense.  So I thought I would take this opportunity to take you with me and share them with you.  Enjoy!  Wish you were here to see this in person! Maybe someday!  Be sure to click on each picture to get a closer view!

The first Crape Myrtles of the season blooming in my back yard!!
 I had no idea what color they would be!



Perfect! Don't you agree?



More jasmine blooming...it smells so sweet!

This is a Magnolia Seed after the blossom goes away! I've never
seen one in this early stage before! Isn't it interesting?

A Magnolia Blossom about to open up.

I finally got a picture of a mother Cardinal sitting on her nest.  We've been
blessed with so many beautiful Cardinals, and already have several
juvenile Cardinals at our feeder every meal.  It will be interesting to see
the next brood arrive!  This nest is in one of the Crape Myrtle trees, and
right at my eye level! Thank you, Mrs. Cardinal, for allowing me to take
your picture while you are "in waiting'!

Now THIS is something I'm proud of! My first tomato growing
on a plant that I planted in my own yard! It was nice of our friends
The Masterson's to give us the plants while they were still in
the pots, and after faithful watering they are finally starting to
produce fruit...or is it a vegetable? Whichever...I can't wait to try it!

Do you know what these are?  This is a Dogwood Tree, and these are the
berries before they turn red.  Of course, these were once the dogwood
flowers in the early spring!  I love how God designs all of these beautiful
trees and flowers and seeds...so amazing!

I don't know what kind of tree this is, but it has a little blossom
growing in the middle of its curled up leaves. We have a lot
of these growing around the edges of the forest here, and I
don't know what they are. Do you?

Not sure what kind of tree this is either, but I think it is some kind
of Sweet Gum or Bay tree. There is a tiny little flower in the center
where the new leaves form.



Look at this profusion of English Ivy! It is growing all over the ground
and around some of the older oak trees in the front woodsy corner
of our lot.  It is so beautiful!



I believe this is "Beauty Berry", a bush that will have beautiful
purple berries that the butterflies and birds will love. I'll bet
the bears and the deer love them too!  There is a lot of this
growing all around, so it will be interesting to see what
"develops".

More "beauty berry" in its flowering stage. 

This is a teensy tiny little flower, growing all over the ground beneath the
old oak tree that is covered in lichen.  I don't know what it is, but it is so
delicate and sweet, and perfectly natural.  Just yesterday this area was covered
with water which ran off of the road and was filled with limerock mud. I feared
that nothing would live there after that...

Our front yard during Tropical Storm Beryl 5/28/12, Memorial Day

Holly Berries in my East Palatka Holly Tree that we planted!
They will turn red later this summer...if the deer don't come and
eat them first!

King Solomon tells us in his writings in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter three,

"To everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under heaven: 

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant,

and a time to pluck what is planted.."  

(vs.1-2) 

And Last, but not Least...this is a volunteer plant growing up in the dirt where we
earlier had been draining (underground) the gray water from our kitchen sink and
garbage disposal!  It may be a cantalope or perhaps a squash vine! Time will tell!

I also stuck some watermelon seeds out there yesterday evening during the rain
so we shall see what pops up from that...if the birds and the bunnies don't get them first!

 "He has made everything beautiful in its time."

Ecclesiastes 3:11a. 

Don't you agree?

I hope you enjoyed this little walk around the yard with me.

I know I did.

Y'all come!