Zinnias and jelly jars

My best friend and neighbor, Montrue, told me a few weeks ago that I need to write about my zinnia and jelly jar obsession...so this one's for you, Montrue!

My favorite flowers are zinnias.  I say this as quietly as possible because I wouldn't want to hurt the impatiens feelings.  But zinnias are so colorful and cheery...I just can't have too many zinnias...which brings me to my jelly jar obsession.

My friend, Lori, put a note in our church newsletter that I needed jars to use as vases so I could share my flowers.   The response was amazing.  Friends brought me almost 200 jelly jars, mayonnaise jars, mustard jars, all sorts of jars in all shapes and sizes!  I had them stacked everywhere- the laundry room, the cellar, and under the kitchen sink.

All summer and fall I've been cutting zinnias and herbs and arranging them in my little jars.  A few lengths of colorful ribbon tied in a bow makes the flowers look all dressed up and ready to go.  Chuck and I have carried them around to people all over town and beyond.  We've had such fun delivering these little jars of God's homegrown love.

Today I made my last two zinnia bouquets of the season.  It was a sunny 50 degrees as I sat outside on the porch at my small wooden table with the buckets of zinnias and garden clippers and jelly jars.  I hadn't taken a single picture of the jelly jar bouquets we've shared until today.

I hope the zinnias and jelly jars have brought a lot of joy to folks this year.  I know they have to Chuck and me.  Pretty Kitty, my ever-present cutting companion and final quality control inspector, seems to appreciate the beauty of the flowers, too! 

I believe flowers are little visual love notes from God...that say things like..."I'm thinking of you"..."I thought you might like this color"..."hang in there"..."remember, I think you're more special than even these."  When we stop and take the time to really look at a flower...its beauty changes us from the inside out.  We get softer around the edges...some of that beauty sticks to us...and we want to pass on a few love notes of our own...in a smile...or a kind word...or a hug...or just a few good thoughts.

Comments

[Teresa D Easley]

Debbie...I really appreciate all you do. I have seen your "zinnia flower jars" at Lauras and at mama and daddys. They both were thrilled with your thoughtfulness. I will save you some jars! Teresa

[Debbie]

Hi, Teresa! Thanks for your sweet words. I'll take you up on your jar offer. And speaking of thanks...we are really enjoying the yellow mums you gave us. They're brightening up our dining room table and helping me with my zinnia withdrawal!--Debbie

[Montrue]

OK, Ill admit that the zinnias in their little jam jars look spectacular today on your blog. Maybe my cynical old eyes missed their true beauty in the blaze of other summer colours...but on your blog the photos of them are so lovely. (As is our little pretty Kitty, smiling at "his" personal flowers.) In the bright sunshine next to the cool white of your porch
furnature, their colours snap out and glow.

We need more summer and less winter

Thank you for sharing the jam jar and zinnia story...like all of the others, it is truly enjoyable

[Debbie]

Hi, Montrue, I'm glad you liked the story. I agree completely that we need more spring and less winter...although it may take till spring to get all the dead flowers out of my yard...your looks much happier than mine right now. And that Pretty Kitty-he's such a Kodak moment every second of his life! What would we ever do without him? Debbie