The Master Gardener: Psalm 19:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

(Psalm, 19:1)

I love to walk into my greenhouse and inhale that warm, earthy aroma that emanates from the warmth of the soil. I get such a kick out to finding new seedlings that have popped through the soil. It moves my joy meter from 2 to 10 just being there. I take my time going from plant to plant to see if there have been any changes, and check the moisture, or problems that need to be addressed.

For a few moments I feel a sense of pride at MY beautiful plants. Then I look over and a rosebush we have named Frankenstein.

I feel a sense of pride at MY beautiful plants

Frankenstein was a discarded cutting from a rosebush. He had been thrown onto the mulch pile with other discarded debris; No-one checked his soil depth or prepared his stem for propagation, no-one watered him or kept his temperature even. He was covered by snow, drenched with cold wind and rain and haphazardly left to rot. 
          On a warm day in spring I began digging into the mulch pile  to spread in my raised beds, and there lay Frank (Frankenstein). Frank had little offshoots, a good root system and looked as if he had been waiting to be transplanted to a spot where he bloom. He seemed to have no idea that he was suppose to be dead. Frank wanted to grow!

What a great reminder! 

God does not require my help to bring to life and grow beautiful flowers. 

He created the seed. 

He makes them grow, wherever and whenever he chooses.

 He is gracious and allows me to care for His creation and enjoy the beauty that comes from that care.  

He is the flower creator. 

He is the flower grower. 

Frank in his new home

It is good for me to remember that in everything I do, it is God that brings about the end result. Doing my best for Him should always be the outpouring of a grateful heart, not a pushing of a personal agenda. If my pride is tied to the outcome of my work, then my motives should be called into check. Humility and gratefulness should move me to be content with His outcome, whatever that is. My job is to do my best with whatever job he puts in from of me, for His glory.

Frank sits on the porch of my greenhouse as a reminder that God is the creator and the master Gardener of plants and souls. I am a grateful under-gardener enjoying His creation. 

How to propagate roses:

(derived from an article by Stephen Scanniello)

Before you can do any planting, you'll need to learn how to get the right cutting. The best time to do this is right after the flowers begin to fade, (probably early Fall). Once you've planned the timing right, follow these steps for taking cuttings and rooting roses:

1. Start by cutting a 6-inch long stem that has three or four leaf clusters (you want this stem to be about the thickness of a pencil). Every spot that holds a leaf is a growing point where branches or roots can form. Once you've made the cut, shave or whittle the end of the stem into a point. Remove all the leaves except one set at the top.

1. Next, dip the point into a rooting hormone and shake off the excess.

1. Stick the stem into a clean 4-inch pot that's been rinsed with a mild bleach solution and filled with perlite or damp builder's sand. Push it in as far as you can, then put the entire pot into a zip-top plastic bag to make a mini greenhouse. Place your plant in a shaded area—not full sun where it'll be too hot.

1. Be patient as the roots form. “You will see leaf growth quickly, but that’s the plant faking you out,” says Scanniello. “It’s not rooting yet so be patient and leave it alone.”

An alternate method of rooting a new rose is to put your cutting in builder’s sand inside a gallon-sized zip-top plastic bag. “That makes it easier to see the roots, "says Scanniello. Just make sure to set it down upright so that the plant isn’t getting squashed inside the bag.

 Hope Wirta