What in the world got me on this espalier kick anyway? Well, I have really been bitten by the gardening bug lately - as it is nearly spring. We just planted a Santa Rosa plum tree in our orchard, as I call it with tongue in cheek, because it was only going to hold two fruit trees. Then, as I was wishing we had more room for more fruit trees, I was staring at the west wall which has some sort of unidentified succulent growing as a screen. That is when it suddenly hit me - espalier! Now, we can fit more fruit trees into our "orchard" using this method - what joy!
a.lateral cordon b.candelabra c.Belgian fence d.fan
Espalier, pronounced: es-PAL-yay, is an old method of growing ornamental, or fruit trees and shrubs against a wall, or as a living fence to divide outdoor spaces. As you can probably guess by the name, it is French, but it really comes to us from the Italian word spalliera, meaning: "stake works, shoulder high." In areas of France and England, where the climate isn't all that conducive to fruit production, because they are cold and damp, this method of fruit growing was used because when the trees are planted against a brick, or stone wall, the warmth collected by the wall from the sun, helps the tree produce fruit. However, I live in So.Cal. and that means I don't have a problem with too little sun! Well, there are spots in my garden that only get 5 hours of sun or less so this method would be perfect. Espalier trees and shrubs can be trained in formal geometric designs, fanciful shapes, or informal espalier that follows the natural growth of the tree or shrub. What in the world got me on this espalier kick anyway? Well, I have really been bitten by the gardening bug lately - as it is nearly spring. We just planted a Santa Rosa plum tree in our orchard, as I call it with tongue in cheek, because it was only going to hold two fruit trees. Then, as I was wishing we had more room for more fruit trees, I was staring at the west wall which has some sort of unidentified succulent growing as a screen. That is when it suddenly hit me - espalier! Now, we can fit more fruit trees into our "orchard" using this method - what joy! Our back yard is going to be semi-formal, not formal formal, so I will be using an informal espalier as seen in these photos. Informal espalier follows the natural shape of the tree but in 2D. Isn't this just lovely? And as far as I can tell, it doesn't require any artificial support using posts and wires. Even though our west wall isn't that tall, only about 4 feet, this method is still desirable for a screen as well as providing a way for us to fit in more fruit trees. We will be planting three Dorset apple trees - I'm so excited! I will keep you informed and provide some pictures of the process. Please stay tuned!
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I am a stickler for Biblical accuracy, call me crazy, but as a Christian, I like to follow a little something called: sound biblical doctrine. Well that's not crazy, because it is really one of the hallmarks of a child of God, to want sound teaching. When someone wants to change words or sound doctrine, then according to Scripture, it is they, and not the lover of sound doctrine, who is the one in error. The one who is being contentious according to 1 Cor. 11:16, or the one who wants to teach false doctrines, by not agreeing with the sound instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the one who is a disputer of the already well established wholesome words [1 Tim. 6:3-4] in the Bible. So is there a difference and does it matter? Yes! There is a difference and it does matter, dear reader. Because when a would be teacher or pastor uses a word like "relationship" to replace the word "fellowship" or they use the word "love" to be synonymous with "salvation", then this is how unsound doctrine and false teachings are able to take root and lead the untaught and unskilled into error. Wholesome words - that is what I wish to defend - the wholesome word known in the Bible as: "fellowship", as opposed to the unwholesome word: "relationship." These two words are not synonymous, they do have different meanings, despite what is being taught or implied from the pulpit by the worldly puppets masquerading as agents of light. Guess which one of these words is used verbatim throughout Scripture, while the other is not. In the Bible, we find "fellowship" is the word used by Jesus and the apostles to describe the Christian's way of life; we are to have fellowship with God and our fellow Christians. In the Old Testament, there are a couple of words such as the word "companion" in English, or "chaber" in Hebrew, that are used to define fellowship as those who are closely bonded together in love or in a common purpose. So what is the difference between fellowship, and relationship, as taught in Scripture? First let me define these words in our own language:English, and then I will define them in Hebrew and Greek. First, let us define: Fellowship. English Def: Fellowship: (v.) to couple with, to join together, communion, communicate with, (n.)be a partaker of, partner, or companion of. Hebrew Def: tĕsuwmeth: (n.) fellowship, pledge, security, deposit chabar: (v.) to have fellowship with, to be joined with, to be in league with, heap up. Greek Def: koinōnia: (v.) fellowship, association, community, joint partici- pation, intimacy koinōnos: (n.) a partner, companion, associate, comrade, sharer in anything metochē: (n.) a sharing, communion, fellowship sygkoinōneō: (v.) to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing. Now let us define: Relationship. English Def: Relationship: (v.)the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected (n.) the state of being connected, and the state of being connected by blood or marriage. There are no Hebrew nor Greek words used in Scripture for the word "relationship." And believe me, I've looked. Let me say that again: there are no words whatsoever to be found in scripture for the word "relationship" in a biblical lexicon. So, is relationship taught in Scripture? Yes it is, even though there is no actual word for it, the concept is still there. The Bible teaches that my relationship to God is that of being an adopted daughter. After I accepted Jesus' redemptive work on the cross, I am now considered by God, to be his daughter via adoption, and destined to live eternally with my God and Savior, Jesus Christ, provided that I continue in the faith, and walk in sanctification. Prior to my acceptance of Jesus' redemptive work, my relationship to God was as a child of wrath, on my way to eternal doom, exempt from the family of God. So, why do modern pastors insist the word "relationship" is synonymous with fellowship, or why do they replace the word fellowship altogether? What is wrong with the biblical word "fellowship"? Nothing. Nothing is wrong with that word.
proper context, then my relationship to God is that I am his child, and he is my Father and Savior. My relationship to other believers is that I am their sister in Christ, in whom I have fellowship with. Do you see the difference? This is only one of many reasons, why there are "one night stand" Christians who won't, or can't fully commit to Jesus and their fellow Christians, nor can they endure the rigors of sanctified Christian discipleship, while living in this sensual worldly system. When the going get's tough, man, they split!
who are brought together for a common purpose. They go through difficult trials, suffer great personal peril, and even celebrate joyous victories as they journey along toward accomplishing their goal. Through this effective process, they are quickly bonded together, which causes deep love, commitment, and care to grow for one another. This is what Scripture calls fellowship! Fellowship means going through this Christian pilgrimage together. In good times and bad, for better or worse, in thick and thin. That, dear reader, is what our life as Christians is to be like. So should we live like these hippy dippy pastors say we should, in a deep personal "relationship" with Jesus, or should we take a cue from Hollyweird and live in fellowship? Again, ironically, and sadly, Hollyweird has the right idea, not the hippy hireling pastors. But that doesn't mean Christians should lose themselves in the fantasy worlds of 'Star Wars' and 'The Lord of the Rings', because these are cleverly devised fairy tales, and contain dangerous philosophies such as: 'Truth is relative, not absolute', and 'magic is a neutral force; it just depends on who uses it and for what purpose, good or evil'. Yes, living a sanctified life in this world is hard enough to accomplish as it is, without hireling pastors selling us their slick yet unsound biblical doctrines, not only to the flock, but to the unsaved as well. The whole truth and nothing but the truth is in short supply, especially in these perilous last days. The body of Christ should embrace sound doctrine, not shun it. Instead of embracing sound doctrine and biblical truth as unifying factors and a lifeline against shipwrecked faith, the lukewarm pseudo-Christians claim sound doctrine divides and alienates those in the body of Christ and the unsaved alike. They claim it inhibits unity. These are the ones whom are ignorant of the truth; the truth being that it is sound doctrine spoken in love, that unites believers, while it simultaneously divides the unbelievers from the flock. The real, sound doctrine loving sheep, should be leaning on our Lord Jesus and each other for support - through fellowship- not by looking to the world for relevance, insight, and how to live in a "relationship." If I want a close loving bond and live a dynamic life with God and my fellow Christian, and I do, then I must fellowship with them, not have a "relationship" with them, at least not in the way the dippy hippies imply. So, it is with great earnestness that I urge you, dear reader, to leave the "hippie" jargon where it belongs, in the 1960's and 70's, because it is not in the Bible. Jesus taught and displayed fellowship as the way of life for a Christian, with God and men, not "relationship!" So, let us please say, use, and perform only sound doctrinal words and their proper definitions, and live as God intended - in fellowship with one another. Amen! For a list of other wrested biblical words, click here. To read my article on why artists portray Jesus as a hippie, click here.
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Hello!Welcome to my blog, dear reader. My name is Heather, and I am a full time housewife and mom living in Whittier Ca. with my wonderful husband of 26 years, and our two sons. I welcome you and hope you enjoy reading what is on my mind. Subscribe to
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