This quick rambling post is about my rescue Daisies – working it out body, soul, and spirit.
Here we go!
I bought these rescued Shastas off of the clearance rack at Walmart in summer, 2022. Being early August, I imagine they thought it was too hot and too late to do anything with these. You also know Walmart had to get that fall stock in! Seriously, these Daisies looked fine to me.
Come on home plant babies!
I trimmed out all the crunchy leaves.
Look at all that new growth down in there!
I actually appreciate that BH&G didn’t know how they wanted to label these. This gave me the common and Latin names, front and center. I think they may have been $2.54 each.
Grabbed some raised bed mix I had lying around, and some compost:
And I popped these two rescued Shastas into my sister’s Paris tote.
Watered them super well with my beautiful hose. This tote is special in that it has two layers. Somehow this causes it to retain water long enough to ensure full saturation of the soil in this heat, but then the slow release (drainage) is quick enough not to cause root rot. I also don’t know what material this bag is made out of, but it does not get moldy or mildewy. I just dry it out when finished and it is perfect for this type of project.
Sat this bag on the east-facing wall in the backyard. The daisies got plenty of morning and early afternoon sun, then shade from mid-afternoon to evening.
Fast forward to twenty days later: these Daisies were ready to go into the ground!
I split the two plants into four and planted them on the west-facing front of the house, which gets extreme heat and sun! Since it was still August, I continued to nurture them in the ground through the rest of the summer.
Did I mention the bag used to belong to my sister? The fact that I have it is a testament to the love she shared with her daughter, my niece, who out of her own love gave the bag to me even when the timing was very difficult.
Here is a button I found in my sister’s things. She had no idea her bag would be put to such good use, and I think she would have loved it.
Notice, in this image, the seed of love does not plant itself and will not fill the dirt back in by itself. Someone else is nurturing it. All it has to do, as its first task, is grow. We all need love and nurturing from others. It is input, and nourishment, for the growth of our spirits and souls.
My big sis always had an ear to hear someone’s ideas, even when she didn’t agree, without passing judgment. Sometimes that’s all a person needs. If love were a bush or a tree, what would its fruit be?
We are told in scripture that love itself is a fruit of the Spirit of God within us. It is one of the tools that empower us to be patient, kind, gentle, respectful, and full of compassion even when we have not walked in another’s shoes.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
I Corinthians 13:4-7
Authentic nurturing comes from love and is part of how we grow together. Growth comes to both the nurtured and the nurturer. I never want to lose sight of that in my interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. Choir members, church members, coworkers, social media friends – no matter which side of the nurturing equation I am on. Love is patient. Love is kind. And the fruit of a fruit is another seed, to grow and blossom another day.
Remembering my sister while writing this post reminds me that perfect love casts out fear – and you can see the result of that on my face. Pure joy any time I had the opportunity to hang out with her!
And now I have dubbed her tote “the nurturing bag” for my rescue plants. Fitting for the authentic and nurturing person she was.
I would be remiss this weekend if I didn’t take a moment to honor our veterans. They sacrificially serve and love our country in many ways, so we can continue to blossom and grow, in freedom.
May we honor all they have done with lives of our own that are authentic and courageous. May we, may I, stand up for all that is right and true, and nurture with dignity those who are wounded – whether visible or not. Love is steadfast. It always protects. It is patient and it is kind.
Rescued Shastas in bloom. Early June 2023 (10 months after rescue), in freshly mulched beds.
Life is worship, and worship is life. ❤️
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This is such a cool thing! $2.54 for a six inch pot of daisies is a bargain, and you get the satisfaction knowing your brought them out of their misery. Bless you for your efforts!