Milkweed Blooms - Nanette M. Holloway

The milkweed recently planted is about to bloom. And today I saw a Monarch. I’m thankful that they will have some nice blooms to welcome them, and a nice habitat for the next generation to feast on.

But that almost did not happen. I babied my milkweed seeds, which numbered approximately 30. First I wrapped neatly in a damp, paper towel. Then I placed the seeds in a plastic container and labeled them. And finally placed the container in the the back of the fridge in an inconspicuous area. The seeds home for the next thirty days. Or so I thought.

One morning,

I woke up and my husband had very thoughtfully cleaned the refriderator. And yes, you guessed it. He threw out my seeds which had almost completed thier necessary 30 days of chilling (cold hours are required for germination. Many fruit trees also require cold stratification.)

My husband could not understand my agitated, horror struck reaction as I searched frantically for my seeds. Unfortunately the trash had already been taken and thown out.

All that patience, love, kindness and nurture wasted. All for nothing. My efforts would now have to wait another year.

After what seemed a prolonged explanation of his grave misdeed, he kindly said he would go to the dumpster where it was thrown out, and try to find the near priceless container. After some dumpster diving he was successful. Lucky for him!

What about Successful Germination?

Uncertain if the seeds would germinate, I planted them anyway. Much to my husbands relief and mine as well, the seeds sprouted. At one time, the count was seventeen seedlings.

Unfortuneately in my haste to have milkweed ready for the monarch migration, I transplanted them too early. But thankfully I have five viable plants. Only this time I have no one to blame but myself.

Some plants are ready to bloom, welcoming the monarchs on their lengthy journey.

This is certainly reminicent of parable of the sower…(‘er frustrations of the sower). 😉🌻🌺

Scripture for Today

““Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred”” (Mark 4:3-8 NKJV).

Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, please take special care of the seeds we plant spiritually as well as the seeds we plant in our gardens. Bless the monarchs this year as they journey from Mexico. Amen.