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A Writer's Garden, flowers, Garden blog, June McCrary Jacobs, Robin's Reward, spring flowers, Sweet romance, symbolism of flowers
Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing. Today’s writer/gardener guest is June McCrary Jacobs who will be sharing some of the flowers in her garden and the symbolism behind the blooms. Welcome, June!
I have loved flowers since I was a child. In the summer between fourth and fifth grades I used my allowance money and bought some pansies to plant in a barren flowerbed in our backyard. I spent a good amount of time weeding and watering that small patch of a garden. I enjoyed nurturing the plants, and spending some quiet time in my special area. I was really proud to take a picture of the flowers to send to my Grandma McCrary who lived two thousand miles away in New Orleans. I even wrote a poem about the pansies and typed it up on a 1950s typewriter. It’s in one of my scrapbooks somewhere . . .
These days I plant and cultivate a whole host of beautiful blooms on our property. Gardening continues to bring me peace during uncertain times. I never tire of the surge of joy I feel when I look out the window and see God’s handiwork a few feet beyond.
I have always been fascinated with the symbolism behind flowers, and I would like to share with you some photos of my garden flowers along with various words which describe what the flowers symbolize. A link pack of the sites where I found these descriptions follows at the end of the post.
Camellia: A symbol of the transience of life
–White: ‘You’re Adorable’
Pink: ‘Longing for you’
–Red: ‘You’re a Flame in My Heart’
Crocus: Symbol of the Resurrection, heavenly bliss, and youthful gladness.
Daffodil: The promise of eternal life, regard, unequalled love, rebirth, honesty, truth, and forgiveness.
Iris: Royalty, wisdom, hope, cherished friendship, valor, and respect.
Peony: Happy life, romance, marriage, bashfulness, and an ardent love of God.
During my research, I found a couple of biblical references to some of the above flowers:
Crocus or Meadow Saffron — Isaiah 35:1
Narcissus or Jonquil — Matthew 6:30
Do you find peace and solitude in your garden? Please share with us about your favorite flower and its symbolism.
If you’re interested in learning more about the symbolism found in your garden, here are a few sites for you to enjoy:
https://thesecretlanguageofflowers.wordpress.com/tag/christianity-and-flowers/
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/keep-tulip-flowerbed-98015.html
https://www.csu.edu.au/special/accc/biblegarden/plants-of-the-garden#R-Z
https://www.almanac.com/flower-meanings-language-flowers
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/g2503/surprising-flower-meanings/
https://fieldofflowers.com/about-us/flower-meanings/
About the Writer/Gardener:
June McCrary Jacobs was the winner of Cedar Fort Publishing’s 2013 Holiday Tale Contest for her debut novella, ‘A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom’. ‘Robin’s Reward’, a Christian contemporary romance, is set in her favorite location in California—the Mendocino coastal region. This book is the first installment of the ‘Bonita Creek Trilogy’. The second book in this series, ‘Jorie’s Journey’, is set to release in 2021. June’s Christian historical romance short story, ‘Handmade Hearts’, was inspired by the true story of how her aunt and uncle met in New Orleans during World War II.
June’s debut middle-grade novel, ‘RES-Q Tyler Stop’, an historical novel set in Sonoma County, California, in 1968, was released in the spring of 2019. As a retired elementary school teacher and literacy mentor, June found writing for children to be a rewarding and challenging experience.
June’s original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred and forty books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs in the past decade plus. In 2019, June began publishing her sewing designs in sewing pattern e-books. She currently has fourteen patterns for home décor, children’s stuffed toys, gifts, and other items for sale in the Kindle Store.
When she’s not writing, reading, blogging, designing, or sewing, June enjoys gardening, cooking, walking, visiting art and history museums, and touring historic homes and gardens.
Connect with June on ‘Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic’ Author’s Blog: Facebook: Pinterest: Goodreads:
ROBIN’S REWARD
by JUNE McCRARY JACOBS
Bonita Creek’s librarian Robin Bennett is heartbroken after being abandoned by her husband, Thomas. The mysterious and handsome Jeff Clarke arrives unexpectedly and touches Robin’s life with his wit and warmth. Then, without warning, Jeff’s harsh words and abrasive actions scare her off, and Robin’s hope of finding true love withers again.
Just when it seems Robin and Jeff might have a future, Susan Stinson, whose cruel taunting has plagued Robin since they met as young teens, decides Jeff should be hers, not Robin’s. Susan’s anger and jealousy escalate dangerously. Her vindictiveness threatens the foundation of Jeff and Robin’s young relationship.
Robin’s journey through the peaks and valleys of her life meanders along the twists and turns of new challenges. Is a relationship which began with both parties harboring secrets destined to survive? Can they move past their troubles and the obstacles in their path to find love and happiness together? When their pasts rear their ugly heads, Jeff and Robin must use their faith to remain strong and true. But will it be enough for them to embrace a life of love, trials, and blessings . . . together?
©June McCrary Jacobs, 2015.
ROBIN’S REWARD is available on AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE
One plant is a bit behind the others. If you look closely at the center of the picture below you can just see the maroon shoots coming out of the bark mulch. I’m confident it will catch up.
My mother’s triple petal day lilies are back in full force, too. The green swords waving in the breeze. You can see my ferns at the back of the lilies in the picture below. This is only one stand of daylilies that I have in my garden.
I’ve left the dead leaves on my perennial mums still. You can just see the greening at the base of the plants.
If you look closely at the picture below, you can see the white tips of my hostas coming up.
My mother’s irises are up, too. They really need separating, but that’s a long hot job done after they have bloomed in May. I keep putting it off.
And the Stella De’Ora day lilies have made beautiful green clumps in the front flower beds.
Multi-award winning 
Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.
Catherine Castle 