Category Archives: Gardening

Harvest Rain

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Doc Arnett

The blessing of gentle rain, falling slowly on dry earth, brings refreshing and nourishing growth. As does receptive reading of the Scriptures. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Farming, Gardening, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged Bible, Bible study, christianity, faith, God, harvest, horse pasture, Jesus, northeast Kansas, pasture, rain, reading scripture | Comments Off

A Mid-Summer’s Memory

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Doc Arnett

The eruption of pastel trumpets on long slender tubes of green reminds me of my father’s passing, sixteen years ago. Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, Farming, Gardening, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Remodeling/Construction, Spiritual Contemplation, Work | Tagged casket, Charlie Arnett, death, dying, farming, flowers, gardening, life, Nakes Ladies, shrine, Surprise Lilies, tribute | Comments Off

Picking Strawberries on the First Wednesday in June

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Doc Arnett

A flush crop of strawberries and a couple of neighbors transform a dull evening into a bright time of simple sharing. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Farming, food, Gardening, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged childhood memories, Doniphan County KS, Matt Boos, neighbors, ripe berries, sharing, spring, strawberries | Comments Off

In spite of very strict rules forbidding such, my mom used to wear pants when she’d go blackberry picking back in the Fifties and Sixties. It was, I think, a wonderful application of the concept Jesus taught when he said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

But she did wear a dress over the pants! Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Family, Farming, food, Gardening, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged berry picking, blackberries, family, farm life, Fifties, grace, judgment, Kentucky, mercy, religious rules, Sixties, tradition, west Kentucky, women wearing men's clothing | Comments Off

Irises

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Doc Arnett

Tender moments, quiet conversation, true worship… and irises. Shared beauty. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Family, Gardening, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Prayer, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, Worship | Tagged art, beauty, flowers, Freed-Hardeman College, garden, gardening, irises, memory, moments, nature, paintings, peace, prayer, wet on wet technique, worship | Comments Off

Remembering West Kentucky, 1960

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Doc Arnett

Love moved in the toil and duty of callused hands that worked the land, fed families, mended clothes… Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Family, Farming, food, Gardening, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, Work | Tagged caring, devotion, farming, gardening, Kentucky, love, Sixties, west Kentucky, work | Comments Off

Old Smoke and Cold Coffee

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Doc Arnett

The flavor and smell of a cold cup of strong coffee brings back strong memories of Pap Bazzell. Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Family, Farming, Gardening, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Profiles, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged grandfather, hard work, memories, molasses, Pap Bazzell, pipe, pipe smoke, Prince Albert, smoking a pipe, sorghum molasses | Comments Off

Moth Mullein

Posted on June 4, 2024 by Doc Arnett

Is it a weed or a wildflower? Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Does it depend on where it’s growing? What about me? Am I a weed or a wildflower… or a branch of the Divine Vine? Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Farming, Gardening, Humor, Metaphysical Reflection, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged beauty, bloom where you grow, flowers, foraging, gardening, mullein, native-plants, purpose, weed, wildflower, wildflowers | Comments Off

The Hope of Wildflowers

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Doc Arnett

Being pleasantly surprised by a hearty patch of volunteer wildflowers by our house makes the summer a bit brighter. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Gardening, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged beauty, blooms, blossoms, flowers, garden, gardening, grace, mercy, merit, nature, volunteer flowers, watering, wildflowers, wisdom | Comments Off

Strawberry Fields Forever

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Doc Arnett

There have been many times in my life when “different than I expected” turned out to be “better than I expected.” Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Gardening, Metaphysical Reflection, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged Blair Kansas, disappointment, everbearing strawberries, Fleeks Market, food, garden, gardening, God is in control, providence, strawberries, strawberry | Comments Off