Terra's Garden
Monthly Column by Terra Hangen

Would you like to put plants in your garden that will be colorful signposts pointing you to Scripture verses? The Bible refers to more than 100 plants that you can readily add to your garden.

The Creator served as our world’s first gardener. "Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed" (Genesis 2:8).

Next God did something that all gardeners savor—He shared the joy that comes from tending plants. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15).

We all belong in gardens and God calls us to create our own gardens and to nurture patches of earth no matter where we live. Scripture describes an abundance of flowers, trees, herbs, and vegetables for us to plant.

Devoted gardeners know it is therapeutic to kneel down and dig in the dirt. When my friend and I spend more than we had planned at a plant nursery, she always jokes "It’s cheaper than therapy!" Kneeling is also the time-honored position for praying. By filling our gardens with Bible plants, we will be encouraged to recall the scripture associated with them, and to think of things not of this world.

When we gaze at a Bible plant, whether rose or mint, and recall its Scriptural reference, prayers will come easily. Your mood will lift as joy and a sense of peace fill your heart.

Poet Dorothy Frances Gurney included this lovely phrase in her poem God’s Garden: "The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth. One is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth."

Once you decide you are ready to include some Bible plants in your garden, you’ll find many options available. Some that may intrigue you and enhance the area in and around your plot of turned earth are mint, olive tree, fig tree, grapevine, apple tree, rose, onion, leek, wheat, palm tree, lily, crocus, daffodil, narcissus, myrtle, almond tree, cucumber, pomegranate tree, willow tree and mustard plant.

A delightful choice is the group of bulbs including daffodils, narcissus and crocus. These little beauties herald the end of winter and may already be in your garden. You will look at them with a new appreciation when you recall Isaiah 35:1-2: "The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy."

Gardeners in every climate can plant and thrill to these sunny colored blossoms. In snowy climes, yellow and purple crocus will bring you joy as they pierce upward through the snow, heralding the end of winter. In warmer areas they will also be spring’s first blossoms.

To plant these bulbs find a sunny spot, follow the directions on the package about planting depth, and add some bulb food to the hole before planting. I recommend that you plant some of these bulbs in pots, which protects them from gophers and lets you move the pot to a central spot when it is in full bloom.

Another Bible plant is the True Myrtle, or Myrtus communis. This small shrub boasts pretty lightly scented white flowers three fourths inch across and glossy green leaves that are strongly scented when crushed.

"Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briars, the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed" (Isaiah 55:13).

"Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make booths" (Nehemiah 8:15).

Myrtle can be pruned and kept to a rounded six-foot shape, or you can just watch it grow slowly to its full height of 10 to 15 feet. The myrtle’s berries are delicious to songbirds, another point in its favor. Myrtus communis withstands wind and heat, and can be grown in zones 8-11. Myrtle is not frost hardy, and needs to be protected from freezing temperatures, or brought indoors.

As you enjoy and share your harvest, recall the words of Jesus as he commands us to venture out of our gardens, and to meet the world with love.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other" (John 15:16-17).

About the Author: For more of Terra Hangen's garden tidbits, fun garden photos of her black squirrel friend, tips for beginning writers, and a glimpse into her own journey as a writer visit her blog at http://terragarden.blogspot.com. She is celebrating the publication of her first book, Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts, written with 6 Christian writer friends, and scheduled for publication Oct. 2008 by Leafwood Publishers.