nature – Jenny Grace's Poetry and Creative Writing Techniques

Dirt

silt sand stone dust clay

ancient roots teeming with life

grass silently sways

New September

Zinnias dance in swirls of saffron, pale pink, and tangerine; God blesses me with this day.

Coolness of autumn at summer’s scorching finale.

Doorstep of Autumn; God blesses me with refreshing coolness.

Steel gray birds serenade from the canopy of mint green beauty bush leaves laden with deep purple berries.

September morning oak branches brush the pale blue sky; God’s artistry calms my soul.

The heavens heal my brokenness.

Sunshine, breezes, birds, trees, bees, the earth beneath my feet prove that God is holding me.

Winter Reflection: A Poem

Brown-billed bird with ruby throat ignores winter’s threat.

Alights upon icy oak branch and injures itself.

Rush of furious winds topple the weak branches to the frozen earth.

Brown-billed bird with ruby throat darts under splintered limbs.

Sky cries with ice chips splattering and splashing withered brown leaves.

Brown-billed bird with ruby throat camouflages itself within the warmth of withered brown leaves.

Is It Just My Imagination?

Just the other day I was walking down the sidewalk and happened to notice this flower. Is it just my imagination that I see a starfish in the middle?

I researched flowers and tried to identify what exactly type this is, but I wasn’t able to find a name for it.

It is so unusual and I have never seen this type of flower, so if anyone knows what it is called please let me know in the comments.

I love the beauty of nature.

Thanks and have a beautiful day!

Bell Peppers and Road Construction

With the price of food in the grocery store I decided to be proactive and plant my own vegetable garden. I just wanted to share with you my bounty. Perfect peppers. I can’t wait to put them in my salad.

It’s simply amazing how God has created this earth, how this earth provides us with exactly what we need to feed ourselves-rich soil, cool rain, and the sun’s warmth.

These past few months I have had to travel a lot and I have noticed the continuous construction of highways that have managed to cover the rich, life-sustaining soil with asphalt. I can’t help but think the covering up of so much potential farm land is counterproductive.

Don’t we have enough highways and freeways?

I have started my own garden. The vegetables taste fresher than those shipped hundreds if not thousands of miles to a warehouse and doused with chemicals before being waxed and placed in a grocery store.

Have you ever wondered why after you take home your vegetables and fruit they rot after a few days?

I suspect chemicals are doused on these just to keep them from spoiling until we buy them and take them home. By that time, it’s too late to complain.

Maybe I am wrong. . . .I’ve been wrong before. But, I suspect I am right. . .

Anyways, my vegetables taste crisp, sweet, and delicious and spoil in a reasonable timeframe because I don’t douse them with chemicals. In fact, I eat them before they can really spoil.

I know exactly what has been on them and I know exactly where they came from. . .

My little vegetable garden at the edge of my patio.

From my garden to my table.

I feel thankful to God for this bounty.

I feel thankful for the earth, the sun, the rain, the sky. . .

The rich, life-sustaining earth that should not be covered by asphalt is a concern of mine.

What will happen one day when we run out of farm land?

Some might think that is not possible. . .

But, if we turn a blind eye to all the unnecessary construction of roadways how can we truly know what the consequences will be in the long run?

In my little world I choose to plant a vegetable garden and enjoy the freshness of the vegetables that I have grown.

Consider planting a vegetable garden.

Consider educating yourself on the harm too much construction does to our natural resources.

Just a few thoughts I wanted to share on this Monday evening. . .

Busy Mason Bee

Red zinnia sways in sunlight

Sky robin’s egg blue.

Photograph copyrighted Jenny W. Andrews 2023

Prairie Flowers

Petals reach for sky

Bathed in yellow majesty

Butterflies glide by.

Note: Yesterday, I spent an incredibly peaceful day just enjoying the outdoors. The oppressive heat is finally going away. It was pleasantly cool, so I went for a walk and snapped several photos.

I also stopped by my favorite coffee shop and wrote this haiku.

I hope you enjoy it and I hope you take some time away from your busy schedule to enjoy this beautiful world that God has blessed us with.

Jenny

Little Lizard on a Leaf

By now, you’ve probably figured out that I enjoy photographing creatures in my garden.

I love nature and find peace and joy in simply watching the quiet little world beneath leaves and inside flower buds.

It is calming to just take a few moments to pause and watch these little creatures go about their day.

I often marvel at the intricacies of this earth. Have you ever paused and just wondered about all that this earth contains: the plants, the insects, the land animals, the sky animals, the sea animals, flowers, food crops, natural resources, et cetera and so on?

Without a doubt, God has powerfully and wonderfully designed and blessed His creation.

So, on this Monday afternoon, just take a few moments from the hustle and bustle of your busy life and consider all the beauty that God had made.

Raindrops on Pink Crepe Myrtle

A brief reprieve from the crushing heat. A steady drizzle, gray clouds hover and burst, spilling cool raindrops that dangle from the pretty deep pink flower clusters of the crepe myrtle tree in my backyard.

Beauty and joy. These are what nature brings. Of course, there are storms, drought, floods, and an assortment of natural disasters that can befall this ancient earth.

But, deep within the earth’s surface, a riot of roots dig deeply and spread like the limitless hands of God and replenishes us with its fertile bounty.

The earth lives forever because of the seeds that burst forth with life and multiply forever.

This crepe myrtle sprouted from the other crepe myrtles in my yard. Years ago, I’d only planted two crepe myrtles. Now, I have several that have sprouted from those trees.

I have young oak trees that have sprouted from the other oaks, as well.

So, when I see the raindrops dangling from the pretty pink flowers of the crepe myrtle I am reminded of eternity because the rain will water the parched earth and return to the clouds because of the continuous movement of the rain cycle.

God is in control of His beloved earth. He has created the rain, wind, trees, all that is within.

So, when you are despairing of the excessive heat this summer, please just remember that it is just a cycle; the coolness of autumn will come, and so will the chill of winter.

And the cycle will start over again.

Trust in God’s love for his beloved earth and His love for us, his children.

It will rain again.

It will snow again.

And, we will be reminded of God’s power.

It is all, after all, in His loving hands.

Grasshopper on Zinnia Stem

I’ve finally managed to get a photo of this little grasshopper that has been clinging to the pink zinnia in my back yard. He nestles himself closely to the green stem and attempts to not be seen. Granted, you have to peer very closely to see the little green guy. Earlier, he’d scurried away when I had tried to photograph him; well, I’ve been quietly sneaky and finally photographed him.

I just wanted to share this photograph because of the quiet beauty of this image.

Early morning or late evening it is amazing just how many little creatures you can spy beneath leaves and in the grass. I love nature because it gives me a sense of peace. All is well with the world if you spend time simply enjoying the beautiful world that God has blessed us with.

So, turn off your cell phones and computers this weekend and go outside to enjoy the beauty of the day. Take some time to really look at the nature around you. It is inspiring just how perfectly formed God’s creation is.

Have a beautiful weekend.