God’s Amazing Creation – EVERYDAY ENCOUNTERS

“I’ve just dug up some Iris Corms – would you like them?” my mum asked, one sunny Sunday morning.

“Yes please!” I answered eagerly. I never refuse a freebie from my mum’s garden.

A few hours later, mum arrived, plant pot in tow.

I peered inside. And…eeewww!

what are those things?

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen an Iris Corm? Well, I can confidently report that they are not a pretty sight. They look a bit like gnarly, oversized parsnips.

Attached to the corms, were lots of fan-shaped leaves, which had been lopped off bluntly, at an odd angle, which made the whole effect resemble some kind of South American woodwind instrument.

Hmm. Weird.

Planted up and sticking out of the soil, they looked like a bad haircut, reminiscent of the time my daughter tried to trim her own fringe.

“What are those things?” asked my husband, wrinkling up his nose. “Are those leeks?”

Leeks? Not really the look I was going for.

Patience, dear heart. Just have a little patience!

BUDDING BEAUTIES

Now I don’t know why it always amazes me so much, that what goes into the soil, usually comes up! I always get so happy about it!

But sure enough, the following spring, up came three crops of spear-like leaves. Followed by some long, thin stalks. Then, on the end of the stalks, some grey-green buds appeared.

Aha! Promising!

All through May I kept a keen eye on those buds. Then eventually, a few of them began to turn purple. Oh, the excitement! Even the children I look after were getting on board!

And then one fine day – the dramatic unfurling finally happened! And wow – what a knockout!

grand designs

Now if I were a fashion designer, I’d definitely be paying close attention to these patterns and colours! The darker bearded petals reminded me of the Velvet Morning Jacket, that my hubby wore on our wedding day!

And then, a bonus surprise! One of the clumps we had planted was taking a while longer to flower. We soon found out why when they eventually did!

Somehow, unbeknownst to mum and I, we’d managed to plant two different varieties!

The second type were daintier somehow – a softer mauve, all one tone, all ruffles and flounces, like the frills on a flamenco dancer’s dress!

I’M A SWAN!

It just goes to show, beautiful things can come out of unexpected places! Beauty can sometimes be found hiding inside what might first appear to be a bit of a fixer-upper! With a little bit of faith, patience and time, amazing transformations can take place!