Butterflies and Blossoms

In a former post I talked about my dilemma regarding
the beautiful but toxic flowers that I was growing in my front yard.
(Click on highlighted letters if you wish to see that post.)

Well, in case you wondered what I decided to do about them,
I planted this butterfly bush in their place.
It's coloring is quite crimson red,
and should go well with the crape myrtles on each side of it.

I'm hoping the bush will live up to its reputation,
and attract butterflies like I had last year and the year before on my zinnias.

The trouble with the zinnias was
that although the butterflies loved them,
 the plants had taken over my vegetable garden.
(Click on highlighted word above to see the post on Zinnias and Butterflies.)
So, I'm trying to attract the beautiful winged creatures with other blossoms this year.

The day lily is one of them.
(Again, if you wish to see my earlier post on lilies,
click on the highlighted letters.)

Even if the stargazer lily doesn't attract any butterflies,
it will still be among my favorites
due to its beauty and the wonderful perfume it puts in the air.

King Solomon must have liked lilies.

He compared them to a beautiful woman in Song of Solomon 2:1,

"...a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." 

He also used lilies in decorating the temple of God,

 "...he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple...

...And upon the top of the pillars was lily work..."

1 Kings 7:21-22

What kind of flowers are you growing?

Do you grow them to attract butterflies or hummingbirds,

or just because you like them?

To see my latest Hebrew Name for God, click on Rock4Today,

ToXic Flowers

Over the winter season last year 

a "relative of a relative" 

cultivated some shoots of the "Angel Trumpet" plant,

and then shared them with us after my husband
had complimented them on the beautiful and unique plant in their yard.

We eagerly set them out, anticipating the beautiful blossoms they would produce.
After babying them all summer,
(they were very thirsty, and took frequent watering)
I was so thrilled at their magnificent blossoms.

At one time it had as many as 26 "trumpets" blooming,
each of them nearly a foot long.

Their fragrance was as sweet as their showy beauty.

Here's the thing that's troubling,
or as some people say, "Here's the rub" -
They are poisonous!
BEAUTIFUL BUT DEADLY!
Just check it out at Wikipedia, and scroll on down to the part about toxicity.

It's hard to believe that something so beautiful can be so deadly.
Paul has some strong words in Galatians 1:8 that seem to go along with this:
"But though we, or an angel from heaven,
 preach any other gospel unto you
 than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
Sometimes things that appear so right, can be so wrong!

Beauty can be deceiving!

So here's my dilemma.
After rooting several shoots,
do I want to continue to enjoy their beauty this summer?
...Or are they a hazard to keep?

What would you do?


Oh, I almost forgot!
If you want to check out my Name for God on Rocks for this week,
click HERE!
Thanks for your visit!