Lenten preparations!

Around this time of year in Orkney we start seeing a bit more of the sun which means the beginning of work in the greenhouse. Some of the more hardy plants from last year are still being harvested but the majority of the work now requires tilling the ground and painstaking sowing of seeds.

Br Alfonso Maria adds compost to some plastic seed trays

One seed at a time!

For the past few months we've been blessed with chard and lettuce for the table. In the meantime the ground has been totally cleared and new soil and compost laid down ready for the summer.

We've also been blessed with beautiful flowers for the altar.

And the most encouraging sign of springtime in our greenhouse - flowers on our apricot tree!

Now this I say: He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly: and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap blessings. - II Corinthians ix, 6

We are now more than halfway through Lent. But a short time remains for us to be faithful to our resolutions; if we have faltered we may pull out the bad roots, fertilize the ground and start afresh. May God give us the grace to prepare our hearts abundantly in blessings so that our Easter may be filled with true love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

+ Deo gratias et Mariae!