Monday, May 30, 2011

Like Rain On Tender Plants

For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our grateful hymn of praise.
Folliot S. Pierpoint


I post peonies every year, and here are this years that I took about a month ago. They are not mine, I found them in front of someone's yard. To see my peonies from last year, and read the story of how they got their name, CLICK HERE.  Did you know that peonies started out with only about one layer of petals? But man kept improving on them till they had many layers and were much more beautiful. However, there is a flaw in them now. All of the many petals turn upward, and when it rains, the water dumps the heavily laden blossoms over into the mud. I expect you have seen this before, a sad sight. We may think we can improve on what God made, but there is often a flaw, because we are not perfect, nor do we make perfect things. God knew just how the flowers should be when he made them. Sometimes beauty comes at a price.

"Listen, O heavens, and I will speak;
hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants."
Deut, 32:1,2

39 comments:

Unknown said...

ood golly, Miss Molly! What is the name of this peony, I must have it!
Awesome share & write today. TY

Have a beautiful week.
TTFN ~
Marydon

Kerrie said...

Fantastic!!!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Ginny, I love peonies... I saw some gorgeous ones when we were at Biltmore. I have never grown them myself. BUT--I should since they are so pretty.

Hope you are feeling better and have had a great day today.

Hugs,
Betsy

Shanda said...

I have never seen any peonies like this before. They are absolutely increbile. It is hard not to 'sing a hymn of humble praise' when one looks that this!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I did not know these facts about peonies. The photos are beautiful and the peonies are also!

Anonymous said...

Hi Ginny, Mama loved peonies - she had a white one edged with pink. This was a lovely post. My prayer is that you are feeling better and stronger each day. God bless. Love, Mildred

Joanne said...

I have peonies and yes I have noticed that they end up on the ground and now I know why. when will we ever learn that God makes things perfect! Great post! Blessings, Joanne

Ann said...

I've never seen peonies like this before. they're gorgeous. I can't wait until mine bloom

LV said...

I have never tried to grow any of the peonies. If I ever get any, I want them to be just like yours. So beautiful.

Chatty Crone said...

I love that song and I love the peony - I didn't know that they came in two tone.

S. Etole said...

The peonies here are still tight little buds ... yours are lovely.

Ruth Hiebert said...

These Peonies may not withstand a heavy rain,but they are stunning.If it ever warms up,perhaps my Fern Leaf Peonies will open up.

Arti said...

What beauties... And your photography is amazing too Ginny... And yes man can never match God, let alone surpass Him... Have a great day:) Take Care:)

Ann, Chen Jie Xue ι™ˆζ΄ι›ͺ said...

For the beauty of the earth, this was an old hymn that I learnt in Primary school. Pity they don't sing it much these days.

I am lie you, taking photos f other's people's flowers.

How are you?

Reanaclaire said...

God is really awesome, the peonies are so beautiful.. petal by petal, u said.. though they have flaws, lets enjoy them while we can.. like in humans, our flaws we might not notice and some of us do not like others to point out our weaknesses.. but if we allow them to, then our lives will be beautified..

Anonymous said...

Hi Ginny, Oh! How lovely! I think that next to Orchids and the Bird of Paradise, the Peony is right up there as one of the most beautiful of all the flowers. They do not grow in California so I had never had any. I may try some here but we have a lot of shade and our veggies are in where the sun does hit. Have a wonderful Tuesday tomorrow! By the way, WordPress and Blogger are not playing nicely together today so I am posting as "Anonymous". Wildlifewatcher

Karin said...

Gorgeous peonies! With God's creativity implanted into people, new varieties of flowers would never happen! One of the other blogger's husband made a soldered rebar skirt thingy to hold up her ginormous peonies. Her blog is called What Matters Most. It's a good design - it's one of the older posts.To keep the white peonies white, I understand they have to be kept totally separate from the other colors. Interesting!
Hopefully you're feeling better!

SquirrelQueen said...

Oh wow, Ginny I have seen a lot of different peonies but never one like this. When I first saw your photos I thought someone had mixed peonies and carnations. This is a gorgeous bloom.

Regina said...

You can't get any better than this! Gee..your dead right about trying to improve on what God made in the first place.. well these are so lovely!! The words and verse are terrific as well-

Regina said...

I just checked on your link and remember the story of Zeus changing him into this beautiful flower! Wow..they are so striking. Love your header too!!!

Anonymous said...

I've only seen them on blogs. These are so beautiful! And in such a delightful shade! I love the verse and the title of your post.

Hope you're feeling much better now! Take care!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

What beautiful flowers!

Kate said...

The peonies looks awesome ! The pink shade and the softness of the flower made me feel the greatness of God just once again! Yes it's a sad sight to see these lovely creation falling into mud during heavy rains.
Language of Flowers
Can you speak the language of flowers?
http://www.3smartcubes.com/pages/tests/flower-language/flower-language_instructions.asp

RoeH said...

They almost look like that really lacy paper you can make decorations with.

MadSnapper said...

and to go with this story of man changing things, i have noticed that all the plants that are so called "improved" by man, they take much more care, are not as hardy, don't do as well with the seasons. we have hibiscus as God made them and they grow and bloom if it is hot cold or warm and get by on no water, the others we have that are "new and improved" have to be watered and cut back and "cared for". even dogs and cats and horses are that way, the more we try to "breed something new and better or perfect" the more they need specail care and have health issues and don't live as long. see what you stirred up in my head? great post

Neal said...

Gorgeous...awesome.

LC said...

Love those peonies! I had read about them but had never seen any until I visited my brother in Virginia one spring. LOve that hymn, too. Hope you are feeling better. Now I am off to your link to your last year's peony post!

Stephanie V said...

Your peony this year is fabulous! I love those ruffled petticoats under the prom dress!

Mary Bergfeld said...

What perfectly pink photos, Ginny. The peonies are really beautiful. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

Bobbie said...

What a beautiful post! You're right - God's plan is perfect and beautiful and man (us) we seem to really mess things up as we try to make it 'better'. THANK YOU for this today, Ginny!

D said...

Lovely peony, Ginny; it looks like 'Sorbet'. So right in that we think we know it all and can improve upon what is divine. Have a wonderful and well week.

George said...

These peonies are absolutely gorgeous. I haven't seen any quite like this before. However, I agree that man can't really improve on God's creations.

Doris Sturm said...

These are lovely, Ginny - what sweet and feminine color combination! Hope you are feeling better each day!

Did you have a nice Memorial Day yesterday? I thought I might find you posting about a family barbecue or mini vacation...?

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I love this peony! It looks like a few flowers combined into one!


Wonderful thoughts with this posy Ginny.

srp said...

We used to have peonies in Roanoke when I was a kid, but I don't see them very often here. Right now, I have no room for anything extra... it takes me an hour and a half to water what is already here. I WISH IT WOULD RAIN!!!!

Shug said...

Hi Ginny....still thinking of you and your health...Hope all is well!
The flowers are beautiful and you are so right..it is sad to see such beauty dumped in the mud...But, isn't this what we as humans do sometimes...God gives us a beautiful life and sometimes we take things for granted and end up in the mud so to speak....
thanks for sharing.
shug

Dawning Inspiration said...

Beautiful flowers - and so true - nothing but HE is perfect...

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

Oh goodness, Those are so beautiful. Like pink tissue paper and shaved white chocolate when you are looking at the photos upclose. Awesome.

I had no idea that this flower use to only be one layer of petals. I guess that explains the short stems to begin with. They were not meant to support the full bloom man now created. I remember the heavy flowers drooping over on the bush in my grandmom's yard.

God gives man abilities to do so much but its man that thinks beyond GOD's plan. Live within God's plan and you cant go wrong.

Jenn Erickson said...

Ginny, those have got to be the most beautiful peonies, no, the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen in my life!

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