Even as the first stirrings of fall begin to freshen the days, we gardeners are already thinking, ‘Spring!’ Autumn’s advance means it is time to prepare for spring’s flower-burst from bulbs and get humble tubers tucked in the ground to await the warming after winter. “Flowers of the field” is a poetic mention in the Bible of floral fun from bulbs; the most prominent wildflowers blooming in the Holy Land countryside are spring perennials returning from bulbs, corms, and tubers, like lily family plants are known to do.
And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. Isaiah 40:6 ESV
They are spoken of in Psalms and Gospels and alluded to from the depths of lament in Job and Isaiah to the heights of love in Song of Songs. Even as they wow with beauty, Jesus said they are to intently remind us and turn us to the gracious, everlasting faithfulness of the Father who provides all that we need.
If then you are not even able to do a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. But if God clothes the grass in the field in this way, although it is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he do so for you, you of little faith?… your Father knows that you need these things. Luke 12:26–28, 30 LEB
Gardening alone teaches us the practical strategy of entering into winter’s cold, dark days by knowing something splendid is sure to follow: Plant bulbs to endure a season of freezing by knowing flowers are on the way.
Consider the Lilies
Yet Jesus taught that the plants surrounding us were not stand-alone metaphors or simple formulas for positive thinking. Much more than a “rose colored lenses” outlook on life, wildflowers are about our relationship with the Father. “Consider the lilies” is a Word intended to move us from the plant kingdom to God’s kingdom, where we understand the blooming fields as evidence of the Father’s handiwork, personal and beautiful. His flowers, so to speak, are much more than bursts from bulbs; they stand for the things He provides for us. Our “considering the lilies” is a deep embrace our Father is waiting to have with each of us, his children. The prodigal son and his father in Jesus’ parable picture this reality:
While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 NIRV
It may take time—even a lifetime—to truly grasp our heavenly Father’s everlasting love and trust Him to provide in everyday situations, for things as basic and food and clothing and beyond, but that doesn’t bother the Father. He even predicted it by blessing His people Israel to bloom like a lily…
[Israel] she will blossom as the lily Hosea 14:5 TLB
…that is, to be dormant underground for some time until the right season and watering bring the bulb to life to bloom and grow. Can you see this metaphor at work in your life right now?
Fall Planning
As the reality of our Father’s love and provision sinks deeper into our heart and mindset, we have work to do! Let’s dig in to planning and designing our gardens with special flourishes of “flowers of the field” for the spring, beginning with the petaled plants that likely surrounded Jesus when he taught this essential truth in Luke 12:27.
The flowers of this passage have been translated traditionally as “lilies,” though a specific and prolific flower growing wild in the fields around Jerusalem is the Anemone coronaria, or crown anemone, belonging to the Ranunculaceae family...Our Lord has a message for us in flowers: His faithfulness.
My Father is the Gardener, page 59
Crown anemones are the first in a succession of mostly red flowers to bloom in the wild fields, followed by tulips, scarlet crowfoot or Persian buttercup, and poppies. Below are my online sources for fall planning; some are my affiliate links and others I became acquainted with through GardenComm sponsorships at our Annual Conferences over the years. As you plan, research, and draw inspiration for your own garden, let the Word of the Lord fill your mind and heart with the love of the Father.
Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us 1 John 1:1 TPT
Flowers of the Field
Crown anemones, Anemone coronaria, are available to home gardeners in the U.S. as tubers or corms for fall planting and as 4 inch pots to transplant in early spring. I love to grow these cheery flowers; their tufts of vibrant, parsley-like foliage appear first, bringing back splashes of green to a mulch-protected winter landscape. Before long, flower stalks shoot up, one big flower per stem, and the anticipation for flowers to unfurl enlivens end-of-winter chill.
Once flowers burst open, it is a tough decision whether to let them beautify the yard or enjoy them in indoor arrangements, so plant plenty! Available at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com with a special word – enjoy!
The same way a loving father feels toward his children—that’s but a sample of your tender feelings toward us, your beloved children, who live in awe of you. Psalm 103:13 TPT
Yahweh shows favor to those who fear him, those who wait for his tender embrace. Psalm 147:11 TPT
Tulips are an endearing joy in most spring gardens. Wild tulips springing up across the uncultivated fields of Israel are generally shorter than our garden hybrids, and most all are colored vivid red. Contrasting black and yellow centers display as the flowers unfold and fade. Tulipa systola and Tulipa sharonensis are a few of the noted species at Flowers in Israel growing in the Holy Land, though not easy to locate commercially. However, Colorblends, www.colorblends.com, offers a selection of wild tulips, and I found Tulipa ‘Lizzy’ at Brent and Becky’s that will give a similar “flowers of the field” look. But any red tulip will do!
Now because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”). Galatians 4:6 CJB
Therefore you pray in this way: “Our Father who is in heaven, may your name be treated as holy. May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread…” Matthew 6:9-11 LEB
Catch up with Persian buttercup or scarlet crowfoot, Ranunculus asiaticus, at Flowers in Israel. This vibrant flower is right at home blooming between crown anemones, tulips, and poppies as the Holy Land spring unfolds. From this species, our cultivated ranunculus’ have been derived, and the ‘Tecolote’ designation tells of the double-triple-quadruple layers of encircling petals, yielding flower look-alikes to roses or mini-peonies.
Try the Sunset Glow collection at Renee’s Garden (affiliate link) for your “flowers of the field” spring garden.
Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you? Deuteronomy 32:6 NIV
Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 CSB
Poppies, Papaver rhoeas, flourish at the end of the Holy Land’s brilliant, “flowers of the field” bloom, bring the lasting punch of color and flower-love. Breaking from the bulbs before them, they are annuals started from seed scattered in the end-of-winter cool soil, or late fall for warmer climates. Their plant form follows the other red flowers, beginning as a tuft of bright green, sword-like leaves; yet flowers soar on taller stems as they begin to bloom, reaching to nearly three feet tall with lanky impishness to their stunning color. Remember they are wildflowers at heart! Papaver rhoeas is known as common poppy, corn poppy, Flander’s poppy, Shirley poppies, or red poppies.
Try the Legion of Honor Heirloom Crimson Poppies from Renee’s Garden Seeds (Affiliate Link), then save your own at the end of the season.
For a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. And the dominion will be on his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 LEB
But Lord, your endless love stretches from one eternity to the other, unbroken and unrelenting toward those who fear you and those who bow facedown in awe before you. Your faithfulness to keep every gracious promise you’ve made passes from parents, to children, to grandchildren, and beyond. You are faithful to all those who follow your ways and keep your word. Psalm 103:17-18 TPT
Closing Prayer
O Father, in the spring we will say, “flowers of your faithfulness are blooming on the earth (Psalm 85:11),” a praise resounding from the bulbs and corms we plant in our gardens now. Help us to look to You always, and know, truly know, You are always with us and You love us forever. Laying lily-like—that is, dormant for a time—might be Your way for now, but bless us to trust that You will bloom things at the right time. Heal our hearts and our nation from the wounds of fatherlessness and let Your forgiveness and Your faithfulness be our way of life. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
From everlasting to everlasting, you are our God Psalm 90:2
Read more about crown anemones and “flowers of the field” in my recent book, My Father is the Gardener, Devotions in Botany and Gardening of the Bible
Special thanks to Brent and Becky’s Bulbs and Colorblends who sponsored GardenComm Annual Conference this year, and to Renee’s Garden Seeds who has been a great supporter in the past. Did you miss the conference? Join us online this October for recorded session plus new content to help you in your garden communicating life
For more devotions on the “flowers of the field,” enjoy the Let Faith Flourish series, published for Lent in 2018
Photo Credits: (lead image & Persian buttercup detail) Photo 172738589 | Buttercups Red © Igor Igdal | Dreamstime.com, Blooming bright red buttercups in southern Israel; Sunset Glow ranuculus from Renee’s Garden Seeds; (final image) Photo 279055837 | Ranunculus Asiaticus © Andrii Stasenko | Dreamstime.com, Field with growing wildflowers – poppies, cornflowers and buttercups, a ray of sun breaks through the petals. beautiful sunset view. All other photos ©Shelley S. Cramm taken in our Texas garden over the years of enjoying flowers in the field!
CJB notes Scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. www.messianicjewish.net.
CSB notes Scripture quotations taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
ESV denotes Scripture quotations taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
LEB denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.
NIRV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®, Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
NIV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
TLB denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. The Living Bible, TLB, and the The Living Bible logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.
TPT denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com
