Margot’s Corner

August 27, 2012 · 10:13 am

How My Garden Grows: Six

Ajuga [Bugleweed]

Dear Readers,

This is Part Six of “Margot’s Get-Real Guide to Gardening in North West Florida.”

I have previously described Stories or Levels in the vertical spaces of your garden.

In this entry, I will describe Story or Level One: Perennial Evergreen Ground-covers.

The term “groundcover” applies to those plants that spread, clump, and creep, to form a dense covering over the ground, thereby crowding out weeds and preventing erosion.

Here are my favorite tall perennial evergreen ground-covers: These plants are bulletproof, evergreen, blooming, and require no cutting [except for one].

These plants will help to form the “backbone” of your garden: On a winter day, you will see lots of green in your garden!

More to come, in this series: “The Big Picture of Garden Design.”

SHADE:

These three evergreen perennial ground-covers look fabulous together but you must plant them in shade.

Note: Be very sure about the sun exposure, before you plant these. The deeper the shade, the better they will look.

Cyrtomium falcatum [Holly Fern]:

~part shade to full shade

~moisture: regular

~looks great under a tree, in a mass

~soil: does not require–yet likes–good soil

~do not plant too deeply

Aspidistra elatior [Cast Iron Plant]:

~part-shade to full shade: no bright, hot sun

~mositure: moderate

~soil: not required, but for best results: amend the soil and fertilize regularly

Liriope muscari: dark green “Evergreen Giant”

~part shade to full shade

~water: regular

~blooms once a year – not distinctive

~liriope [green] and [variegated] look great next to each other

SUN:

Note: I have planted all of these in dappled sunlight. They bloom quite well and the leaves do not appear stressed.

Rudbeckia nitida ‘herbstonne’ [“Autumn Sun”]

~grows to 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide

~profuse gold flowers in summer

~bluish-green leaves are very attractive

~trim this one, to control growth

~full sun to part shade

~blooms: yellow, summer to fall

~moisture: moderate

~attracts: butterflies

~grows 4-6’ tall

~plant 2-3’ off-center

Dietes [African iris]

~not an iris — but looks like one!

~requires moderate moisture

~grows 2-4′ tall and 2′ wide

~plant 1 foot off-center

~full sun or part shade

Iris Virginica ‘Blue Flag’

~likes acid, sandy soil

~requires high moisture: I planted mine near a “fogger” or “mister” [to attract birds]

~grows 2-4′ tall

~plant 1-3′ off-center

~light: full sun or light shade

Agapanthus [Lily of the Nile]

~moisture: requires little water but can tolerate too much water, also~grows 4′ tall and 1′ wide

~large bloom on one slender stalk

~blooms: colors from which to choose: white, lilac, indigo blue/purple

~blooms: distinctive blooms, on tall stems, various colors, once a year

~requires full sun to part shade

~self-propagates

~easy to divide

~roots like to be crowded, in order to bloom

~choose the best variety for your area

~grows to 4 feet high; plant 1 feet off-center

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Tagged as blue flag iris, bullet-proof plants, cast iron plant, dappled sunlight, dietes, holly fern, lily of the Nile, liriope, North West Floria, perennial evergreen groundcovers, rudbeckia, shade evergreens, sun evergreens, vertical spaces of the garden

August 17, 2012 · 3:04 pm

Summers of Contentment: Part 4

Dear Readers,

Click this link to read Part 3, before you read Part 4. Summers of Contentment: Part 3.

After a sit-down supper in a family restaurant, we climbed back into the car.

As the sun went down, my dad and mom led us in singing. And this was the best part of the entire day . . .

. . . We were certainly not the Family Von Trapp — yet we were all good singers, by nature and nurture.

I have written previously about vocal music, “nature and nurture,” in this entry: A Gift From My Parents.

My father could “write his own ticket” as a tenor in any church choir. My mother had a fine alto singing voice and lent her talent to both church choir and community chorus.

Within the “bubble of our Buick,” our parents taught us how to follow a tune, sing the melody in unity, harmonize, sing in “rounds,” or even “weave” counterpoint melodies.

My mother taught us songs that she learned from her childhood: Every summer, she attended Baptist Church Youth Camp at Quaker Lake, North Carolina. [The family of Mildred Mackie, my mother’s dear life-long friend, was Baptist.]

This bit of trivia explains why my mother, raised in a Quaker home, taught her children songs which were fervently evangelical: “I’ve Got the Joy,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “Into My Heart,” etc.

Quaker Lake, North Carolina

The Blair Family Singers enjoyed a wide repertoire, including nursery songs, lullabies, Sunday School songs, hymns, Campfire Songs, and folk songs.

But my favorites were the plaintive Spirituals, especially those which my heroine, Marian Anderson, immortalized, when she sang them so beautifully and bravely.

[You can listen to recordings of these songs, performed by Marian Anderson, on Spotify.]

~~~~~~

Were You There?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh, oh, oh — sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, oh, oh — sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, oh, oh — sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, oh, oh — sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?

Deep River

Deep River,
My home is over Jordan.
Deep River, Lord.
I want to cross over into campground.

Deep River,
My home is over Jordan.
Deep River, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.

Oh, don’t you want to go,
To the Gospel feast;
That Promised Land,
Where all is peace?

Oh, Deep River, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.

My Lord, What a Morning!

My Lord, what a morning,

When the stars begin to fall.

You’ll hear the trumpet sound,

To wake the nations underground,

Look in my God’s right hand,

When the stars begin to fall,

When the stars begin to fall.

My Lord, what a morning,

When the stars begin to fall.

You’ll hear the Christians shout,

To wake the nations underground,

Look in my God’s right hand,

When the stars begin to fall,

When the stars begin to fall.

My Lord, what a morning,

When the stars begin to fall.

~~~~~~

My parents were not, by any stretch of the imagination, theologically-oriented nor were they evangelical.

Never, as a family at home, did we read and discuss Scriptures nor did we pray together.

But, thankfully, my parents were part of “The Greatest Generation” [author: Tom Brokaw] and were deeply committed to the family.

And, thankfully, they took us to Sunday School and to Worship Services, every Sunday morning.

I think to myself now: My parents would be surprised to know that I learned, through those Spirituals, “The Mystery of Faith:”

“We remember His death,

We proclaim His Resurrection,

We await His Coming in glory.”

~~~~

Within the “bubble” of the Blair Family Buick, we blended our voices and sang those Spirituals, with all of our “heart, soul, mind, and strength.”

Singing connected and strengthened us as a family.

Within our family sphere, we had no idea, at that time, of the future challenges that would threaten our family.

Yet, decade after decade, our family endured. And those songs fortified and galvanized our family for the endurance against difficulties.

So, I praise God: For my parents, who bequeathed to us a rich legacy of the Simple Pleasures of Family Togetherness.

And for my siblings, with whom I share these memories.

Fifty years later, I still remember those songs.

As I already told you: I was lucky.

Coram Deo,

Margot

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Tagged as "Deep River, "My Lord What a Morning!", "The Greatest Generation, "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?", 1955-1965, childhood memories, childhood summers, family togetherness, green Buick, Marian Anderson, road trip, simple pleasures, singing as a family, singing in the car, Spirituals, summer vacation, The Mystery of Faith, Tom Brokaw

August 16, 2012 · 5:50 pm

The Pause That Refreshes

Do you desperately need “the pause that refreshes:” a respite from our long, hot, humid season?

Please join me in a class that will be invigorating!

Have you ever noticed the many references to refreshing WATER that the Gospel of John contains?

I invite you to join me to plumb the depths of this book!

St. Peter’s Anglican Church [SPAC] offers weekly Respite and Refreshment!

Below is a quick overview. For details: http://www.saint-peters.net.

Wednesday Evenings, beginning 09.12.12:

5.15 – 6.00 pm: Catered Buffet Supper in the SPAC Fellowship Hall [requires advance reservations]

6.15 – 7.30 pm: Wednesday Evening Academy Adult Classes [requires advance reservation and fee for books]

About Margot’s Class:

“Coach Margot,” long-distance swimmer, invites you to join her Team, in a two-semester class: John for Everyone:

We will cover Part One in the Fall Semester, 2012: 09.12.12 – 12.12.12

We will cover Part Two in the Spring Semester, beginning January 16, 2013.

The Rev. Doctor N. T. [Tom] Wright, Anglican bishop, theologian, and New Testament scholar, describes the Gospel of John as:

“. . . one of the great books in the literature of the world; and part of its greatness is the way it reveals its secrets not just to high-flown learning but to those who come to it with humility and hope.”

Dr. N. T. “Tom” Wright

This is a class for everyone . . . . everyone, that is, who is ready to be a member of a “high-commitment” Team!

Advance Requirements for the Team:

— Commit to diligence in homework “drills.”

— Commit to faithful attendance and participation at the weekly “practice meets.”

— Register: www.saint-peters.net or Reply below.

— Reserve your copy of the commentary: www.saint-peters.net or Reply below.

Here is what the Team can expect, as we plunge into this invigorating study of the Gospel of John:

We will:

-Limber up our mental muscles, with “land-lubber” exercises . . .

-Learn how to sharpen our view of Scripture, through the “lens” of Faith, Reason, and Tradition . . .

-Gain confidence, stamina, and proficiency, in the shallow water and . . .

-Plunge into the deeper water.

Please join The Team and “go the distance!”

Ready to “dive in?” Questions? Reply below.

UPDATES: Margot’s Class

Begins: Wednesday, 09.12.12.

Location: St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Tallahassee.

Open to: Adult men and women.

Day & Time: Wednesdays, 6.15 pm – 7.30 pm. We will begin and end on time.

Source Text: The Gospel of John, contained within the two books [the commentary].

Register: Before 09.12.12: Call 850.701.0664 or Reply below.

Fees: There is no registration fee.

Books: Fee for the two books is $28: cash or check, payable to St. Peter’s Anglican Church. You may purchase your books on 09.12.12.

Supper: By the previous Monday, you must make or cancel your reservation for each Wednesday Supper: Call 850.701.0664. $6 for adults; $1 for college students. Cash or check, made out to St. Peter’s Anglican Church.

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Tagged as "John for Everyone, N T Wright, refreshment, respite, St. Peter's Anglican Church, St. Peter's Anglican Church Tallahassee, Tom Wright, water

August 10, 2012 · 11:58 am

Portrait of A Tree

Crape/Crepe Myrtle [Lagerstroemia]

” ‘Natchez ‘ Crepe Myrtles grow 20′-30’ high in the South. The foliage becomes a reddish-orange in fall. The bark peels off attractively, rather like that of birches, adding winter interest. Natchez Crepe Myrtles bear white blooms. As with most crepe myrtle, the flowers are the main selling point. They not only grow in striking clusters, but put on a display that lasts longer than that for most plants (mid-summer to fall). The blooms yield to fruits that are brownish and persist through winter.” [Wikipedia]

Dear Readers,

Recently, I was looking out the window at my Crape [Crepe] Myrtle trees: I chose the “Natchez” variety — but not for the profusion of ornamental and transient white flowers. No, I chose it for one striking and enduring characteristic: the beauty of the emerging “inner” bark.

It is fascinating to observe the process: Over time, the rough, ugly, greyish, thin, “outer” bark will peel and slough off, to reveal the smooth, satiny, cinnamon-color “inner” bark:

The vigorous and healthy growth of the tree provides the vitality and energy to burst through the containment of the outer bark.

The portrait of this tree reminds me of the dynamics of a forty-year process:

Forty-two years ago, in May of 1970, I attended a Protestant Youth of the Chapel Retreat. I was 18 years old and my only motivation for attending the retreat was to spend time with my high school boyfriend.

In those days, weekend retreats were very simple. They were intentional “retreats” from the world and provided hours of silence. As I recall, the retreat followed this daily pattern:

~~~

Breakfast

Silence

Morning Prayer

Keynote Speaker

Lunch

Canoe on the Lake or Hike a Nature Trail

Silence: Rest, Read, and Bible Study

Supper

Keynote Speaker

Vespers by the Lake

Silence

Curfew

Lights Out

Silence

~~~

The Keynote Speakers were two handsome, athletic young men, who were volunteer staff with a university campus ministry.

The theme for the speakers’ lectures that weekend was, “My Heart: Christ’s Home,” based upon a simple little booklet, written by Robert Boyd Munger.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA

Robert Boyd Munger

I assure you that I did not, before the retreat, possess a yearning to offer hospitality to Christ — no, not even admittance to a tiny, dark, recessed corner of my autonomous life.

For I was a busy high school student: Endless activity filled my days, evenings, and weekends. And then there were also my studies, which I must cram within the frenetic schedule. Contemplation and meditation were completely absent from my life.

But the weekend retreat and the hours of silence provided for me an opportunity to stop, think, and ponder.

I was not yet a student of theology. If I had been, I might have snorted in derision at the simple content of the booklet, My Heart – Christ’s Home.

It measures merely 3 1/2″ x 5″ and contains only 25 pages of text. Page 3 introduces the theme:

“That God may grant you to be strengthened with might, through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” [Ephesians 3.16-17]

“That Christ may settle down and be at home in your hearts by faith.” [Weymouth translation]

The keynote speakers offered each of us a copy of the little booklet, which contained eight tiny chapters. Over the weekend, I read the booklet, as a novitiate might pore over a prayer-book. The reading filled up the moments of silence, as I meditated upon the weighty message of this simple book.

On the last evening of the retreat, I perfectly remember that we, the high school students, were encircled around a camp fire. We sat on the benches of the amphitheatre, in front of the lake.

The two speakers, standing in front of us, concluded their talks and asked us, “Are you ready to ask Christ to ‘settle down and be at home in your hearts by faith?'”

In silence, we departed and returned to our cabins, in time for curfew. The counselors extinguished the lights and all was silent. With a flashlight, under my blanket, I re-read the booklet.

And then I made a very reckless decision: I followed the instructions, contained within the booklet: I “transferred the title-deed of my home:”

I signed the title-deed of my life over, as it were, to Christ, and placed my life under his ownership and control.

If I had carefully counted the Cost of Discipleship, as the author Dietrich Bonhoeffer implores us, I might not have made such a life-altering decision.

It was, I admit, a rash thing to do.

And I do think that, at the time, someone might have warned me about the long-term consequences.

The portrait of the tree represents those consequences:

Over forty years’ time, the presence of the Living Christ has eclipsed my life.

How did I ever hope to think, forty years ago, that I could safely contain the Lord of the Universe, within the confines of my life?

For, even heaven cannot contain him!

This is my fair warning to those contemplating such a serious decision: Count the cost of discipleship.

Take heed — for Christ will burst through the confines of your life.

The thin veneer of your life will peel, slough off, and float down to the ground. Doubtless, you will not enjoy the process, for it is painful.

The life of Christ, mighty, majestic, and powerful, will not conform to the contours of your life. Your life must conform to his life.

But the process, as painful as it may be, will also startle you with its ultimate beauty:

Forty years from now, you may survey the life-less and superfluous outer bark and think to yourself,

“Oh, yes, this process was indeed necessary. He has increased and I have decreased.”

Then you will realize that the transfer has become a transplant:

Christ, The Great Physician, has removed your heart of stone and has given you a heart of flesh.

It is a mystery beyond my telling.

Coram Deo,

Margot

P. S.

Yes, I married Stephen Payne, my high school sweetheart.

Give-Away!

I have four extra copies of the booklet, “My Heart – Christ’s Home.” If you want a copy, free of charge:

Step One: Include a Reply/Comment below — I will reserve a copy for the first four persons who respond.

Step Two: Contact me at my email address [marmeepayne@gmail.com] and include your name and snail-mail address.

Or, if you want to order the booklet:

ISBN 0-87784-075-X

Revised Edition, 1986, by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA

http://www.ivpress.com

InterVarsity Press

POB 1400

Downer’s Grove, Illinois 60515

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Tagged as " high school, "My Heart - Christ's Home, 1970, Christ, count the cost of discipleship, Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ephesians 3.16-17, hear of stone, heart of flesh, Lord of the Universe, Natchez Variety, Protestant Youth of the Chapel, retreat, silence, The Cost of Discipleship, weekend retreat

August 8, 2012 · 1:37 pm

Out of the Mouths of Babes: 1

Benjamin and Lucy: Christmas Day 2011

Dear Readers,

After I wrote this blog entry: Magnolia Blossoms, Canopy Roads, and Spanish Moss: Part 1, my dear friend, Carole, came over to my home to visit. She and I share the joy of grand-mothering Benjamin and Lucy. In the midst of our conversations, I said, “Have Mercy!” — one of my favorite expressions.

Now, as you know, “Little pitchers have big ears:”

Benjamin overheard our conversation. My brief phrase evidently sounded familiar to him. He looked up at me, with his soft, liquid, brown eyes and was silent for just a second. Then, with complete sincerity and reverence, he said slowly, softly, and distinctly: “Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.”

Carole and I silently looked down at Benjamin and then to each other. Our three-year old grandson had just admonished me.

~~~~

That prayer of unison response, “Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer,” is part of the Liturgy of the Historic and Ancient Church.

Benjamin recognized the prayer — from participating in the Catholic Liturgy with his family.

Every Sunday morning in the Sanctuary, in the Anglican Tradition, the congregation kneels and we prepare to enter into “Common Prayer.”

It is a holy moment, as we prepare to “lift our voices, with angels, and with archangels, and with all the company of heaven . . . ”

And in that moment, heaven and earth will intersect.

This is the moment during which I am the most grateful for the Liturgy, meaning, “the work of the people.”

Our collective prayers, beautifully and masterfully composed long ago, are borne aloft, as the incense is borne aloft, offering a pleasing aroma to the Trinity.

The global and historical prayers will sweep over the sacred space and enfold my small voice, as a mighty, crashing wave of the vast ocean might gather up a piece of sea glass.

[Form IV: Book of Common Prayer, page 388]:

Let us pray for the church and for the world. Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.