Modernism rejects the great beauty of the past. In fact, it often destroys or defaces it, constantly stripping away tradition and whatever has gone before. This is one example.

On a smaller scale, I have myself been guilty of viewing my gardening as mostly a utilitarian exercise, focusing solely on things that can be used or eaten.

In doing this, I have sometimes neglected beauty. But beauty feeds the soul, and is spiritually uplifting.

There is great beauty in nature, though it’s not strictly needed.

God didn’t need to make this:

He could have made grey capsules that release and receive pollen.

This is excessive.

Sometimes, in encouraging others to cast off inedible landscaping and worthless lawns, I have swung the pendulum too far, doing ugly things like gardening in tires or just planting rows of crops without giving the eyes – and the spirit – something lovely to rest on.

The woods at this time of year are like a wonderland of green leaves and spring blooms.

But many of our homesteads look like junkyards, focused solely on utility without a thought for greater things.

This year I decided to fill my Grocery Row Gardens with irises and daylilies, sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias and lilies. Just because. No, we can’t eat most of those, but they bring joy and beauty, and since God was the maker of both the olive and the daisy, we should celebrate both.

I repent of directing my eyes only upon the needs of the flesh. There is space for beauty as well.

“Considerate lilia quomodo crescunt non laborant non nent dico autem vobis nec Salomon in omni gloria sua vestiebatur sicut unum ex istis.”