Garden Stories

The September 2026 Story:

"Miss Daisy and the Side Yard Ducks"

from 2003

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Above, A yellow Swallowtail Butterfly visiting petunias.

GARDEN STORIES 🕊

"Miss Daisy and the Side Yard Ducks"

A true story from 2003.

Late one afternoon I was feeding oyster crackers in the side yard to the Mallard couple who nested in a nearby bush. As I sat at the old square table, Miss Daisy, our front yard duck, spied me through the decorative wooden fence. Happy to see me out and about, she gave a cheerful quack and waddled up to the fence then jumped through. Immediately the side yard female (a cranky little thing) squawked at her male companion: "get her!"

He obeyed and began to chase after Daisy with a vengeance. "Quack! Quack!" Miss Daisy turned around as fast as a duck can, managed to get through the gate, but the angry male was in hot pursuit. "Quack! Quack! Help! Help!" I could hear her fearful cry as I leaped up and began to wrestle with the latch of the old wooden gate.

By the time I ran into the front yard, the male had chased Miss Daisy under my husband's parked Yukon. "Quaaaack! Quaaaack" came her woeful sound from under the vehicle. By then the male had disappeared under it too. "Daisy!" I called, "I'm here!" She ran out from under the vehicle. Once free she spread her wings wide and ran (not waddled) straight towards me, squawking the whole time. Reaching me she huddled around my ankles.

My husband who heard the ruckus came outside to investigate. Seeing the action as it unfolded, he chased the male back to his mate in the side yard. As he returned to see how Daisy and I were doing, I looked at him, eyes glowing. "You know what honey?" I said, "This must be a little how God feels when we get into trouble and need someone protecting us. He must be so glad when we know enough to cry out and run to Him for help."

After Daisy calmed down, I put fresh water into the old stainless steel Revere stock pot that had become her water bowl. I then sat and fed her a few oyster crackers- her favorite treat. She took a few sips of water, then weary, toddled off to find a comfy spot under the old sand cherry tree. She hunkered down, tucked her head under her right wing and went to sleep.

Sweet dreams, Miss Daisy.

Another day ends in the garden.

Once Upon Real Time Stories

The Japanese White Pine

Once upon real time,

a lovely Japanese White Pine Tree

planted along the river was dying.

No one could say why, it just was.

A friendly bird living nearby thought that perhaps the tree was lonely. So one day it flew over the tree and dropped a few seeds near the trunk of the sad White Pine.

But the Japanese White Pine continued to decline. Maybe it just wasn't in the right location. Unknown to others, a seed had sprouted from the bird's gift and began to grow.

After awhile the White Pine lost all it's needles and branches drooped lower too. The older gardeners finally decided it was time to let the White Pine go. They asked the nice garden helper to remove it.

Much to everyone's surprise, the little tree that had been hidden within Pine trees dying branches was finally seen! Rapidly it began to grow, although it's trunk was crooked from growing within the branches of another. That was okay to the gardeners. It thrived living along the river and they were grateful to watch new life growing there.

The bird's gift tree soon began reaching up into the sky. Lo and behold, as it grew, its trunk straightened out! Trees valued for straight and true trunks were the seeds from which the little tree grew.

It's leaves were a delight to many as well. They were big and glossy, shaped like the silhouette of many folks' favorite Spring flower. The tree's seed was also that of the same type as the tallest deciduous native trees* in all of North America. After a few years it became big enough to offer shade to anyone sitting on a nearby cement bench.

The tree's leaves became a favorite spot for other creatures that lived along the river's shore as well. Swallowtail butterflies began their life's journey within its leaves. The bigger the tree grew, the more butterflies flitted across the yard, making anyone willing to see, smile.

In less than 10 years, the hidden sapling that came from the bird's gift is now around 30' high. It grows butterflies, houses birds and provides shade to the old people who had once mourned the death of their Japanese White Pine. The seeds were dropped at just the right time. All things really did work together for good.

You don't have to live by a river or tend a Scripture Rocks Garden to witness such everyday wonders. Although it often takes quite a bit of time. He has something good for you too, in His perfect timing- if you love & let Him. Don't be surprised by what it is or when. Just be delighted

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

*Note: "The tallest deciduous tree in the USA is the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). Some individuals heights exceed is a 190' and grow in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This makes them the tallest native hardwood trees in North America." (source: Wikipedia)

Above, The failing Japanese White Pine, Fall, 2015. Do you see the Great Blue Heron standing nearby?

Above, A Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly flitting atop garden phlox that's growing behind a bench between river and the Tulip Tree, 2026.

Above, A future Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar beginning to make it's cocoon on a leaf of the tree.

The August 2026 story:

"The Japanese White Pine"

from various years.