Visiting the Garden

[Shin]

The blueberry bush.



Some wildflowers that grow around the quince.



Spring onion.



Parsley in flower.

Fine photos are they not? The parsley is bitter..

'And they came into Mara, neither could they drink the waters of Mara, because they were bitter: Whereupon he gave a name also agreeable to the place, calling it Mara, that is, bitterness. And the people murmured against Moyses, saying: What shall we drink? But he cried to our Lord. who did show him a piece of wood: which when he had cast into the waters, they were turned into sweetness.'

Exodus 15:23-25

'To whom she said: call me not Noemi (that it to say, beautiful) but call me Mara (that is to say, bitter) because with bitterness hath the Almighty very much replenished me.'

Ruth 1:20

[Shin]

Some photos next of the various inhabitants of the garden.







The robin family has lived in this garden at least since early Spring. While other birds come visit, the robin family is here every day looking for insects and worms to eat in the grass, and finding all they need.

'On the high mountains of Israel will I plant it, and it shall shoot forth into a bud, and shall yield fruit, and it shall be into a great cedar: and all birds, and every fowl shall dwell under the shadow of the boughs thereof, and shall there make their nest. And all the trees of the country shall know, that I the Lord have humbled the high tree, & exalted the low tree: and have dried the green tree, and have caused the dry tree to spring. I the Lord have spoken, and have done it.'

Ezechiel 17:23-24

'Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. [Mt 6.26]

The birds are the saints, who fly to heaven on the wings of contemplation, who are so removed from the world that they have no business on earth. They do not labour, but by contemplation alone they already live in heaven.'

St. Anthony of Padua

I shall ask a question that is simple, if the saints are the birds, then what must the lilies be?

'Considerate lilia quomodo crescunt: non laborant, neque nent: dico autem vobis, nec Salomon in omni gloria sua vestiebatur sicut unum ex istis.'

[Shin]

The second family that inhabits the garden is the rabbit family.







'There are four the least things of the earth, and they are wiser then the wise. The ants, a weak people, which prepareth in the harvest meat for themselves: The rabbit, a people not strong, which placeth his bed in the rock: The locust hath no king, and they go out all by their troops: The stellion stayeth on his hands, & tarrieth in kings houses.'

Proverbs 30:24-28

At first one might think stellion was an alternative spelling for stallion, but actually it is a lizard. Rabbit here is actually translated in the original Douai as 'leveret' which means young hare.

This passage has a meaning related to four virtues. I wonder if anyone can guess what they are?

[Shin]

Today's robin who looks like he might be molting. This is my first time trying out a super long zoom lens.





His odd behavior of spreading his wings and preening himself make me suspect this is the beginning of summer molting. His feathers look quite fluffed up.

'In thy cogitation detract not from the king, and in the secret of thy chamber curse not the rich man: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will declare the sentence.'

Ecclesiastes 10:20

[James - a humble servant]

Ha ha, It's also, most likely, part of their mating dance ! It IS that time of the year. 

[James - a humble servant]

Those are some really good pics. Brother ! Even a great shot of Mr. Bunny ! - lol

[susanna]

These are great fun Shin.  I love nature closeups.  God bless. 

[susanna]

Were the virtues you asked about prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance? 
I don't know what the lilies represent if birds are saints.  The faithful on earth?  Virgins?   
 

[Shin]

Ah, the beautiful cardinal virtues! Thank you Susanna.. In this case it is some more unfamiliar virtues that are the answers, however you have one correct

It is possible to guess at them from the context.

'There are four the least things of the earth, and they are wiser then the wise. The ants, a weak people, which prepareth in the harvest meat for themselves: The rabbit, a people not strong, which placeth his bed in the rock: The locust hath no king, and they go out all by their troops: The stellion stayeth on his hands, & tarrieth in kings houses.'

Proverbs 30:24-28

The ants the virtue is.. according to the original Douai commentary.. Industry or industriousness. Of course.. how like ants..
The rabbit.. the virtue is. . . Prudence, yes! A bed upon a rock.. prudent foresight..
The locust.. the virtue is.. Concord! Though they have no king they are all united together in an army..
And the last virtue of the little lizard staying on his hands in the houses of kings. . .

[susanna]

Humility? 

[Shin]

Yes that is it, humility!

It's been awhile since someone guessed at one of my quizzes or riddles, so I'm quite pleased, thank you Susanna!