BEAUTY AROUND US

Azaleas blooming near the ivy bed.

It seems that as soon as the blooms of one type of flower begins to fade and fall, others burst forth to take their turn.

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Picture below is of the hostas. The gazing ball was a mosaic project from a few years ago, and the statue has seen better days, but the poor little guy is about sixty years old. The previous owners of our Leesburg home had left him out by the pool. He came with us when we made the move from Florida.

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I think the waterlilies down at our pond are trying to cover the entire top of the water!

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies;
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thyself, best Gift Divine,
To the world so freely given,
For that great, great love of Thine,
Peace on earth and joy in heaven.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the Beauty of the Earth

(1st & last verses)

--Folliott S. Pierpont, 1864