Garden Club of Virginia Historic Garden Week

Aprils in Virginia are highly anticipated for those of us that enjoy luscious gardens and beautiful homes. All across Virginia at several different times, private homes and gardens are opened for tours.

My daughter and I have gone every year for the past seven years. Though we would love to visit all the tours across the state, we are not able. We go to the gardens in our area of Frederick/Clarke County.

Since 1929, The Garden Club of Virginia organized Historic Garden Week to benefit the restoration of Historic Virginia Gardens. Every April three to four private homes and gardens are opened for tours all across Virginia. It is a grand opportunity to see private homes one may not otherwise ever get to see.

This year three gorgeous, historic homes and gardens were open in Clarke County: The Tuleyries; Carter Hall; and Apple Hill. These tours were hosted by The Winchester-Clarke Garden Club and The Little Garden Club of Winchester. These cheerful, friendly ladies give brief tours of the main floors of each home. The gardens are open for our own time to enjoy.

Historic Garden Week is our annual mother/daughter Spring outing. Rain or shine, chilly or hot, we are always happy to see the homes, gardens and visit with other guests as well. This year my twinster was ‘allowed’ to join us! My daughter says this is a mother/daughter thing–only! Though she will allow her aunts to join us!

Check out their website: http://www.vagardenweek.org

Perhaps these photographs will convince you to go!

The Tuleyries
Beautiful barn–The Tuleyries.
The guard of the flowers!
Lovely vegetable gardens.–The Tuleyries.
Isn’t this rooster great?
Inside the gatehouse at The Tuleyries.
A huge, old Osage orange tree!—The Tuleyries.
View from boxwood gardens.—Tuleyries.
Carter Hall
A huge, stunning Willow Oak—Carter Hall.
Front door at Carter Hall.
Front lawn at Carter Hall.
Back porch-Carter Hall.
Boxwood gardens—Carter Hall.
Apple Hill
It was raining too much to get garden photos.
Beautiful Double-blooming Carnations purchased at Garden Club Sale!

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Persist

What would you persist in to your own detriment? Regardless of the cost in regards to your faith, family or freedom?

Persist is a hard action word that involves self-sacrifice, work, diligence, pain and perhaps sorrow.

In the words of Winston Churchill, Englands Prime Minister during World War II:

This, dear reader, is the epitome of the word persist.

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Break

To break a promise. Ouch. Something that can be hard to keep and easy to break, a promise. For this reason I make very few of them. Sometimes, I know, it cannot be helped to break one. I suppose that is why they should not be made often.

How comforting it is to know The Lord never breaks His promises to us. Do you know that? Do you believe it?

I will never leave you nor forsake you. ~Jesus

I was always taught to never say ‘never’. Yet I believe Jesus. He has never failed me. When I confess my sin He forgives me and helps me do better. Even if I have to break a promise.

He helps anyone who calls on Him. Glory! Won’t you give Him a try today?

Todays Writing Prompt

What’s something most people don’t understand?

Most people in our country today do not understand the Bible and the truth it holds. Actually they know nothing to very little of it. As such, simple, basic truths cannot be known, much less understood.

For example: What does Easter celebrate? How many Apostles did Jesus have? Name the four Gospels?

Why my concern anyway? Your truth is your truth, mine is mine, what is the issue? The issue is simple, truth is eternal, truth is timeless, truth stands on its own. It is not “mine”. It is far greater than puny, little me. We do not own truth. We simply either live it out or deny it. Truth does not need defending, it need only be proclaimed. It defends itself.

Because most folk don’t read the Bible anymore how can it possibly be understood?

Know what I used to do? Now I’m confessing. I used to read the Bible and tell myself, ‘Yeah! My husband needs to read this! He needs straightening out!’ or how about this, ‘If only my sister (co-worker, friend) would read this we would get along a whole lot better!’

Then something awful happened. I clearly remember one early morning ‘seeing’ a finger gently pointing to me with the impression on my heart that said, “I am talking about you.”

Me??? I am the problem?? How can that be? I’m practically perfect in every way!

It was a paradigm shift in my life. It is hard coming face to face with oneself. Scripture describes these two character traits as pride and humility. Scripture tells us pride comes before a fall, humility before honor. Boy, was that humiliating.

Perhaps that is why people do not read The Bible? It is not fun coming face to face with oneself. I can tell you – everyone else likes me better!

Are you up for a self-check with Truth? A little time in Scripture will reveal Truth to you. Are you up to it?