St Peters RC Church Hamilton

Graceful hydrangeas offer us

Soft hues, pinks and blues,

Toning through to lilac a mixture.

Sometimes blue the fixture, other times pink.

Then again, when wishing for variety

There is sunny white which offers opportunity,

Or deeper salmon pink, a glorious warmth to its tone.

Eye-catching outside, hydrangea heads can come inside

To be dried, the colour changing as this happens.

The individual florets are dainty,

Binding together to form a flower head,

Collected together as in the formation of the bush.

There is an immediate impact to attract,

With many a variety to choose from.

Recently a French plant breeder experimented,

Until he grew a truly delectable hardy shrub,

Fit for any border or a good sized garden tub.

This hydrangea named ‘Vanilla Fraise’,

Starts life in satin white flowers

Which, whilst growing, emerge in elegant cones

To surprisingly, as they reach maturity,

Turn to a stunning shade of strawberry.

This particular flower is even happy in an open tricky

North facing spot, where many blooms are not at all content.

Not only is this a beauty, ‘Vanilla Fraise’ boasts

A delightful fragrance, which most hydrangeas do not.

Unfortunately as yet, whilst I have several photos

Of hydrangeas happily placed to be admired,

I do not have a picture of this speciality.

Temporarily it has to be held in my memory.

One thing is a certainty however,

Which is to find a seat near a hydrangea,

I can meet with my Creator most happily.

For the delightful drifts of taffeta pinks, baby blue,

With some bright white and gentle violet too,

Offers to me thoughts of God’s skill in creativity.

For whether our choice is for bold as brass mophead hydrangeas,

Some even larger than a tennis ball,

Or the more diminutive, dainty lace cap variety,

When together so attractively adding to the plant’s versatility,

Hydrangeas are structural, whatever you prefer.

Be it cottage style, suburban garden or an up to date contemporary look,

This shrub has plenty of charm to offer.

For it is truly flamboyant and so easy to grow.

I am certain our Lord God does know what works well for us,

And goes to lengths to readily provide this.

Suitable for any and every style of garden,

No other flower offers colour for so long.

Do we not belong to a Lord God so generous,

He makes the hydrangea not only vivacious,

You can find some come into bloom in garden centres,

Surprisingly, as early as at Easter, already looking bonny and very healthy.

We too could look more happy and healthy

If we made time to pray more regularly.

Easter would be an apt time for prayer of praise,

To amaze at the Lord Jesus rising from the tomb.

Gloom lifted, errors shifted by forgiveness, true love gifted,

Our Father’s merciful offer in the Lord Jesus, as the Spirit shows us,

Although any day, any time, anywhere is good for prayer,

The season of Easter is the pinnacle of Christian rejoicing.

Fast forward to bountiful, beautiful August,

And we see fullness of natural life all around us.

The Lord Jesus promises us fullness of contentment, heaven sent,

When we live to give God the glory through Him.

No time like the present to begin,

Let us sit awhile, admire the hydrangea’s style,

Offer all thanks for the beauty of God’s creativity.

And in prayer share our evident happiness.

Beguiled by plenty of charm, whilst in Jesus we are kept safe from satan’s harm.

Lord, with a life kept safe from harm and plenty to charm us, here is more than sufficient reason to offer You all thanks and praise. Please accept this, as we worship through Jesus and admire the natural world. Amen.