"Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds"

Nobles, citizens, farmers, mechanics, seamen, footmen, maid servants, even chimney sweeps and old clothes women dabbled in tulips.
Charles MacKay, author of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, 1841

The tulips reached their peak in Pennsylvania about a week ago. Tulips are particulary lovely and I am hoping to add a few bulbs to my garden next year. The deer decimated my tulips over the years, and I have been reluctant to indulge in a few bulbs again, only for them to be destroyed. This makes it so hard to understand the Dutch tulip mania of the 17th century. Bulbs that would not flower until the following season sold for $2000 each. And it begs the question for all of us...why are we so influenced by popular culture?

It is hard to say why the Dutch become so feverish about the tulip over the rose or the peony. But by 1634 demand was so great that the whole county seemed to turn to the production of the tulip. Tulips had been introduced at extremely high prices, demand was maniacal, but the market suddenly collapsed, leaving the country's economic system in shambles, and many impoverished.

At the height of the craze, is has been reported by MacKay and others that one man paid $40,000 for 40 tulip bulbs. Another reported to have traded wheat, rye, four fat oxen, eight fat swine, twelve fat sheep, hogshead wine, four tuns beer, two tuns butter, one thousand pounds of cheese, one bed, one suit of clothes, and one silver cup for a total of $1000, all for one root of the Viceroy tulip.

In the end, everybody had tulips and nobody had money.

The dot.com craze, the real estate bubble, zhu-zhu pets... they are all the same in some ways. A quick way to make money? Something we must have to gain our neighbors admiration or envy? Why do we succumb to trends and crazes? Why don't we learn from history, such as the tulip craze? What are the things that we invest in that are not worth their cost to us? What are the ways the popular culture influences us to squander our resouces?

In spite of the painful history, the beauty of the tulip, particularly en mass, can't be denied.


Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Elizabeth: A new life in the garden

My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind.
Michael Jordan

This is a very special blog entry about a very special garden and a even more special gardener.

Today, the garden is in Indiana, in a beautiful women's health center, where my daughter has just given birth to our first grandchild. A beautiful and perfect little girl, Elizabeth, has entered the world today.

If any have any question about the obvious metaphor of gardening and raising children, consider this story: Two women were discussing raising children. The first said that she would raise her children with free will, to be unfettered and unconstrained by the wisdom of the ages. They would be allowed to grow on their own, and make their own decisions.

The second mother pondered this, then simply asked this question: "Would you like to see my garden?" The first mother said yes, and they proceeded to a plot of ground with brush and thickets and weeds all around. The first mother said, "This is no garden. "

The second mother said, "I know. I allowed this garden to grow freely, and fettered and unconstrained. I allowed it to grow on its own, with no guidance from me, the gardener."

And so the metaphor of mother (and father) as gardener is profound. At birth, we assume the responsibility of the garden -- watering, providing light, pruning and protecting, and removing the garden hazards. We do this knowing full well that the fruit of our labor is not ours to keep.

And as Samuel Rutherford wrote: "Let you children be as so many flowers, borrowed from God. They are not ours any more than the garden is ours. They are gifts."

And so, today, I am profoundly grateful for the gift --into the grand garden of humanity the Master gardener has brought forth a new blossom -- Elizabeth Jean.

...He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:14-16

A Blanket of Protection

At their core, when things really matter, people see a need to turn to God for strength and protection. Lee Greenwood

Just as a baby is swaddled in a blanket -- to keep her warm, and to help her to be secure in her environment, the gardener knows that young seedlings and plants need similar protection.

How many of us have planted something, only to watch is freeze in the cold, wither in the sun? An experienced gardener learns to protect the plant.

Mulch is the blanket -- the protective cover. Nothing glamorous about it at all -- and it is material which has been reused, recycled and composted in most cases.

Mulch prevents erosion of the soil. It keeps young plants warm and insulates moisture. It diminishes weed growth, and provides nutrition as it decomposes. Mulch keeps our foods clean, keeps our gardens clean, and maintains a more even soil temperature.

Gardeners have been mulching for at least two thousand years. Pliny the elder (AD 23-79) refers to compost in his writings. citing the effectiveness of piling organic materials on garden plants.

Like the humus of the forest floor, it becomes both protection and the fuel for growth. And best of all is that mulch is a key component of the circle of life --compost, organic clippings and residue are the food for the new life.

We, too need a "blanket" of protection as we struggle to grow, to be strong and healthy -- keeping good things in and the harmful out? What is your blanket? That is for you to answer.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protections over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Psalm 5:11

Old Wood and Patience

An ancient Chinese proverb says "If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people."

Lilac flowers on old wood. A new lilac, or a pruned lilac often produces few or no flowers for many years. Growing lilacs takes a patient gardener.

It also has been said that you plant a grapevine for your children, and an olive tree for your grandchildren. Interestingly, the lilac is in the olive family (oleaceae).

Our lilac was transplanted from starts given to us about twenty years ago by an old friend, Leo, and his sister, Helena. The seedling was probably about four to six years old, and it has grown another twenty since then. Some things just take time to cultivate. Lilacs are one of those things.

While most flowering plants and bushes flower more profusely when pruned, the lilac does quite the opposite, blooming more profusely when left alone to grow naturally. Pruning generates more wood and green, but a lilac left alone for a few decades will reward the gardener with a spectacular show of color and scent.

Lilacs are another old world plant, brought by immigrants, and typically planted by their front door. Lilacs were cultivated by both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.

In lore and literature, the lilac symbolizes love. Interesting metaphor for the lilac -- if lilac does represent love, the metaphor is that sometimes it just takes time for love to bloom. The concept of restraint and patience would be important. By not forcing the love by pruning and cutting, the fullness and beauty of the bloom emerges, and love happens naturally.

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:12

Life is Like an Onion...

Life is like an onion. You peel it one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.
Carl Sandberg

The chives from our kitchen herb planter are now growing and ready to snip, adding a last minute burst of flavor to whatever we are eating. In the garden, the onion sets have been planted. This year we have planted red and yellow onions, shallots and chives, all part of the grand tribe.

The onion tribe: chives, scallions, leeks, shallots, garlic, pearls, red, yellow and white onions. The grand and glorious onion is part of almost any main course, whether as a vegetable or a garnish.

The onion history: Chives (allium schoenoprasum) are the only in the allium genus native to the old and new world. Otherwise, the onion is an old world plant, documented to have been around for many thousands of years. It had been a symbol of eternity for the ancient Egyptians -- a sphere composed of multiple layers. Ancient Greek athletes ate massive quantities of onion to balance blood for sport or battle. Roman gladiators used onion as a rub to increase strength. Legend tell of chives used by Romanian gypsies in fortune telling.

The onion as remedy: Almost any ailment is thought to be cured by the onion by some culture in history. Through history it has been used to treat sore throat, headache, brittle bones, as a diuretic, an aphrodisiac, and much more.

The Onion Laws: Some crazy laws have been enacted regarding onions, though it is doubtful they are enforced. For example, in Nacogdoches, Texas young women may not eat raw onions after 6 p.m. See other onion laws: www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/onion/onionlaws.html

The onion metaphor is rich. Like Sandburg observes, the layers of the onion reveal the dimension and fullness of life, and the observation that, like the onion, the dimension and fullness and "layers" of life make you weep is so true. But more than that, the onion is part of the heart of the meal, offering full flavor to the most bland, or springlike garnish as an accent. In the Numbers verse below, we see that even the manna from heaven was without flavor. It was the absence of the leek, the onions and the garlic that was lamented by the Israelites.

If our life is like an onion, how can we add that richness and fullness and flavor to all that surrounds us?

We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but the manna. Numbers 11:5-6

Columbine and Forget-Me-Not

"Oh God, Help Me," the young girl screamed in terror.

"Do You Believe in God?" the shooter asked.

"Yes," she replied.

Valeen Shnurr, Age 18

Columbine massacre survivor

Eleven years ago on April 20, 1999, we shared a collective gasp at the carnage and horror of the Columbine High School shootings. We grieved as a nation, and shared a sense of helplessness. As the funerals began, on April 24, 1999, I remember being moved by a parent who asked that people not forget their children.

And so later that day, I began working the earth, planting what would become a memorial garden patch for the victims and their families. Every year as the April sun warms the earth, and the flowers begin to bud, I remember -- and in reading this, today you will remember also. This garden has come to serve as a little outdoor meditation area -- a place to pause from the hurried pace and remember the fleeting nature of life.

Although I will most likely blog at a later date about individual plants in this small garden, here is an introduction to the Columbine garden, which is tucked in a shady corner, hidden from full view. The garden features:

Columbine -- the reference is obvious

Forget-me-nots -- the flower of remembrance

Bleeding Hearts -- shade perennial in the shape of a heart with a tear drop falling from it

Lily of the Valley -- sometimes called "Mary's tears" which fell to the ground at the crucifixion of Christ. Legend has it that this plant is a sign of Christ's second coming.

The garden is nested in an arc of arborvitae, which is known as the tree of life. The tree of life is mentioned in Genesis 3:22, and should not be confused with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Symbolically the tree of life is Jesus Christ.

Through their attributes and the course of human history, plants have meaning. My Columbine garden shares promise and hope by telling the story of redemption. For any of my gardening friends wanting some plants from this garden, stop by for some starts.

"Down the middle of the city street, on either bank of the river were the trees of life, which bear twelve crops of fruit in a year, one in each month, and the leaves of which are the cure for the nations." Revelation 22:2

Lemon, Dandelions and Pasta

If fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade.

There is really nothing at all in the garden to harvest at this time of year. So, in my sincere desire to eat from the land as much as is possible, I am forced to be adventurous. Making "lemonade" from the only thing to harvest right now: parsley, chives, lavender, rosemary and -- dandelion.

As promised in my last blog entry, dandelions are now part of the harvest. We ate them last night with oil and vinegar, and were surprised. They were tender and peppery, much like arugula. My recipe for dandelions tonight is a new creation from an old favorite, remotely like an old favorite Lemon Pasta recipe from Ina Garten. I am not sure that lemon-dandelion pasta is an appetizing name. So I think I will call it Sunshine Pasta. What do you think?

2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 c. red onion, chopped
2 c. dandelion leaves, rinsed.
2 T. olive oil
1 t. garlic, minced
1/2 c. grated Parmesean cheese
1 lemon, juiced and grated for zest
Katamala olives (optional)
1 c. heavy cream (or milk -- I use 2%)
1 lb. fusilli pasta, cooked

Saute olive oil and garlic. Add onion and cook slightly. Add cherry tomatoes, until warm, but not cooked. Add milk. Add lemon juice and lemon zest. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook pasta until desired firmness. In separate bowl, mix pasta, cherry tomato mixture, Parmesean cheese and fresh dandelion leaves (or arugula or spinach). Add katamala if desired. Serve immediately.

The field of dandelions is full and ready to harvest. Unexpected, abundant and nutritious food. Who knew? My grandmother did.

But he said to then, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Then His disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought Him food?"

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work. "

"Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest?' I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." John 4: 32-35