Rural House of Mercy

By Sister Margaret Park

Autumn’s approaching. I let go, however, of my desire to both uproot the hardening stalks and pull up the browning heads within our three raised garden beds. Recently, these formed a lovely backyard garden of flowers and vegetables. Now, despite much harvesting being done, members of our small backyard community teach me that the time for tearing down is not here yet. So, I still my uprooting desire.

Past their peak of beauty, the large zinnias are no longer desirable for forming bouquets. When in full bloom, these giant beauties provided good summer cheer in foldable but durable vases that we take to our elders who are confined indoors. In midsummer, we repurposed two vases by placing them upside down on the poles of our birdfeeders to create obstacles that prevented the industrious chipmunks from emptying the feeders and driving away the birds. These chippies did partner with us, however, planting sunflower seeds through and beyond the zinnia plants in the garden.

Delighted with the growing sunflowers, our goldfinches checked them regularly for progress and are now enjoying the newly formed seeds in the giant sunflower heads. Being adept in leaning and curving their bodies to reach these seeds, the goldfinches work beside the bees and butterflies who still busy themselves among the plants. Hummingbirds can be found also, if we look quickly, in this little garden community.

Bees hovered over the tomato plants. Varieties of tomatoes, including many heirlooms, have developed wonderfully. Sister Trish Tyler frequently bagged these juicy treats and took them to nearby shut-ins, recipients of the local Downtown Dinner which RHOM helps serve, and the housing developments for the eating pleasure of residents who do not ordinarily have homegrown tomatoes.

Chipmunks who had decided to enter a hole in the wall of our house soon found cinnamon around it to deter them. They also found a prowling cat became aware of their presence and began to appear nightly, sleeping on a porch cushion and becoming another member of the Backyard Garden Community. We are grateful, however, that our chippies planted butternut squash seeds. We will soon enjoy three big products of these vines.

I ponder that delving into various connections in nature or presenting photos taken of interactions within Creation can add awareness to folks who gather with us to enter more fully into the Scriptures.

Trusting that the members of our little backyard group will let it be known to Trish and me when they are finished harvesting for this season, I wait. My uprooting desires can then transform into action. While waiting, we will all continue to live together on this blessed plot that enjoys God’s Creation.