Enroute to get your morning paper, say “hello” to your flowers and you can make a difference in your day. The Lord has sent the glorious three-day rain for which we had waited it seemed forever. As I walked by the herb garden, I pulled some grass from the front plantings and transplanted eight volunteer zinnias within a few minutes. Even though the ground was finally moist, I took a couple saucepans of water from the rain buckets to pour around the zinnias. You must do this whenever you plant anything and they will grow and not die. In the process of this “little” chore, God let me see the five lovely white blooms on the Easter lily that was deciding to bloom a little late this year. 

     Perhaps it was waiting to rejoice when the rains came. I stuck my muddy hands in the water bucket near-by to wash them before I headed to the road for the morning paper. Nancy Hugo Ross had a most informative article in the Richmond Times Dispatch, therein which told about the new weed “groundsel” that is beginning to take over our state and many people are thinking it is a lovely potted plant. Know what you buy. Know your flowers. Know your weeds. If you don’t want to fool with Roundup and have only a few weeds pour some apple cider vinegar on them and they will die. You’ll have a nice smell around your house, if the vinegar hits your hands it is helpful not harmful, and everyone will be happy.

     The few minutes you took to say “hello” could become among the most meaningful of your day. After all, the poet said, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” I don’t know about you but in these perilous times, I can take all the joy I can get. 

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