Index of Articles by Thomas B. Clarke: Christian author and landscaper

Index of All Articles by Thomas B. Clarke

Last updated October 25, 2015

TOM CLARKE

Author and Landscape Gardener


10/19/2015	Landscaping at Believers' Chapel in Auburn NY	Last week I completed some landscaping for our new church, Believers' Chapel of Auburn. The goals of this spot garden were to attract people's eye to this re-make of an older church and to be deer resistant. … (more)
8/29/2015	Gethsemane Prayer Garden is Now Closed to the Public	In an email to me from Jim Tuttle, pastor of Faith Chapel, he stated, "Tom, I am totally fine with people using the prayer garden from the public. My concern is that it is no shape to show publicly. It would likely be a big disappointment if someone traveled a great distance to see the garden. It is wise to remove it as a public garden." … (more)
7/11/2015	Rethinking Your Landscaping: Developing a New Design	This week I completed the landscaping redesign for the front of our house. This article is the first in a series that focuses on landscape design principles, whether for a new prayer garden or a redesign of your landscape … (more)
1/23/2015	Prayer Rooms in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden	There are eight outdoor prayer rooms in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden. The prayer rooms use shrubs and trees rather than wood or concrete to separate each area. A bench has been placed in each prayer room for personal intercession with God and … (more)
12/11/2014	In Review: 2014 in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden	As I step down from my position as Caretaker of the Gethsemane Prayer Garden, I prepare this review of 2014 for the Gethsemane Prayer Garden as my last annual review … (more)
10/22/2014	Becky Lynn Daylily: A Sequel	God does answer our prayers, and does so suddenly: … (more)
1/4/2014	In Review: 2013 in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden	We did several things in 2013 that were not on our list and we made some progress on the two things that were on our list: … (more)
12/12/2013	What Does a Flower Mean to You?	I believe that the beauty of flowers is in the eye of the beholder. In this article, I try to show how individual meanings of flowers can develop … (more)
11/30/2013	God's Voice: Installing Deer Protection	As with many gardens, we find deer can be a daily problem, especially in the winter. This articles discusses some ways that we winterize our plants to protect them from the deer … (more)
11/8/2013	Oak Tree: A Place for God's Redemptive Process	The Bible states that Absalom was caught under the thick branches of a great oak, suspended between heaven and earth. In this article, we see the oak as a place where we can be confronted with ourselves … (more)
10/27/2013	Preparing a Rose Bed for Winter in Zones 4 and 5	When the first hard freeze comes (usually in November), the roses will be cut back to 12-18", treated with the recommended castor oil solution, and then mounded with mulch … (more)
10/19/2013	The 'Pool of Siloam' is a Place to Reflect on What Our Lord Has Done	The Pool of Siloam, which was started during the summer in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden, is now complete. This article explains how this small pond received its name … (more)
9/26/2013	Mountain Laurel: Planting With Care	With care, I planted a Mountain Laurel in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden, believing by faith that my relationship with my daughter Laurel will soon be restored … (more)
8/31/2013	John 15:2 - Pruning Produced Better Grapes	Last fall we planted four grape vines in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden - two were pruned and two were not pruned. We were attempting to visually illustrate John 15:2, that pruning produces more and better fruit. Now the results are in … (more)
8/13/2013	Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Will Provide, and He Did	We have been digging a small pond that we have named 'Pool of Siloam' as an extension of the small stream on the edge of the garden. The pond is surrounded by three very large willows which should have been a clue: lots and lots of roots. The Lord provided … (more)
8/3/2013	Purple Smokebush: Cloud-like, great for prayer gardens	We planted four purple smokebushes in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden in May, 2013. The four purple smokebushes are part of a larger planting based on Exodus 33:7-34:35. The purpose of this blog entry is to explain how the smokebush fits the role of the cloud from the Bible … (more)
7/21/2013	Becky Lynn Daylily and Mountain Laurel: Pictures of God's Restorative Process	"It might even be today," is how I concluded a blog article about the restoration of relations between my two daughters, Laurel and Becky, and myself. God is stirring something in my spirit; I think He is preparing me to step beyond hope for I will soon see His good work in this … (more)
7/17/2013	Sea Holly: You Will Recognize Them By Their Fruit	I recently purchased three Sea Holly plants for the Gethsemane Prayer Garden. At first I was simply infatuated with its steel-blue color. As I looked deeper into the plant, I came to understand more fully what Jesus meant in Matthew 7:15-20 about good and bad fruit … (more)
6/28/2013	Removing the Showy Primrose Plantings	While I very much enjoy the showy primrose, I have removed most of them from the Gethsemane Prayer Garden. Despite my enthusiasm for the rich colors and gorgeous effect of this plant, this spring I repeatedly sprayed Round Up on the three main beds … (more)
6/24/2013	Catmint Is Great for the Garden Border	Twenty-two luscious purple catmint plants greet the church visitor along the front border of the Gethsemane Prayer Garden. The catmint is a low-cost and high-impact flower for creating a welcoming scene … (more)
6/5/2013	Design Garden Prayer Rooms With Inviting Paths	A prayer garden should create an atmosphere where peaceful serenity can be found while at the same time stimulating communication with our Heavenly Father. One way we attempt to accomplish that in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden is by creating prayer rooms with inviting garden paths … (more)
5/24/2013	The Mayapple is Like a Hidden Treasure (Proverbs 2:1-5)	The search for wisdom is like the search for hidden treasure. It is like the sudden discovery of the treasures of the Mayapple; many will pass this beauty by, and some will find the secret it beholds … (more)
5/19/2013	Cushion Spurge Sings Praise to Yahweh (Psalm 113)	When I initially look at the cushion spurge, the brilliant yellow clusters remind me of the sun in its fullness. But a closer look at the clusters reveal a more fascinating aspect of this flower: many are in groups of five … (more)
5/17/2013	Primrose Symbolizes Humility (James 4:6,7)	The primrose reminds me of the favor that the Lord grants to those that exhibit humility … (more)
5/14/2013	Bleeding Heart Flower Suggests A Heart of Love and Compassion (1 Peter 3:8)	The bleeding heart is a delicate pink and white flower that prefers to grow in the shade. The heart-shaped pendulums remind us of compassion and love … (more)
4/23/2013	Delaney Farms: Thank You for Your Effort	Dave and JoAnn Delaney, owners of Delaney Farms on Onondaga Hill, are our neighbors on the south side of the prayer garden. By removing a large pile of debris that was adjacent to our property, they are demonstrating what it means to be a good neighbor … (more)
1/19/2013	List of Plants in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden	There are 60 varieties of flowering plants and another 20 varieties that do not flower in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden. I prepared a list of each one along with the months of interest for each plant and a brief description … (more)
1/16/2013	What's Next In the Gethsemane Prayer Garden?	My on-going prayer to God for this garden has been, "What's next?" Several years ago I received a vision of a gazebo, but my petitions for water and electricity have so far been unanswered … (more)
12/15/2012	Grape Trellis Based on John 15:2	In John 15, Jesus spoke about the vine and the branches, and then uses those principles to encourage us to love. Today we finished building two grape trellis structures which illustrate the pruning process … (more)
11/27/2012	Installing a Large Wooden Cross	Yesterday we placed an eleven-foot tall wooden cross in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden! Remember, Jesus Christ is the lover of your soul … (more)
10/5/2012	Enjoying Gaura	The most stunning of today's flowers are the gaura. Also known as 'Wand Flower', true love never dies … (more)
4/22/2012	Why the Redbud is My Favorite Tree	Give me but one tree, shrub or flower that I would especially want in a newly planted garden, it would be a redbud. Love is in the air … (more)
4/7/2012	Daffodils on Palm Sunday	On this Palm Sunday, the daffodils have been hit by a heavy frost. This day, they appear to be bending in reverence to the coming Messiah … (more)
3/16/2012	Transplanting Advice for an Unusually Warm Spring	I have never known a spring where I would consider transplanting so early. As the author of Ecclesiasties wrote … (more)
10/22/2011	Autumn's Abounding Love	Autumn is a season of hope and a time of faith. To the tree, the life is in the leaf. To the Christian believer, the life is within and abounding in steadfast love … (more)
10/16/2011	Chameleon Plants: Choose the Right Location	I particularly enjoy a 9" tall groundcover named chameleon plant with beautiful green leaves, adorned with red, pink and yellow highlights. Can we choke out weeds as well as this plant? … (more)
9/28/2011	In Review: 2011 in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden	A review of the volunteer force, garden quality, garden visitors, garden expansion, and thoughts for next year … (more)
9/17/2011	The Gethsemane Prayer Garden from Google Earth	I was so surprised this week to discover that Google Earth has updated its images for Syracuse, NY and in particular the vicinity of the Gethsemane Prayer Garden … (more)
9/2/2011	The Blossoms of September in the Prayer Garden	September's flowers are the gaura, roses, false ageratum, Russian sage, autumn joy sedum, Chrysanthemum, blanket flower, and Japanese anemone … (more)
8/7/2011	The Blossoms of August in the Prayer Garden	August's flowers are the cosmos, roses, anise hyssop, Russian sage, and the sensational Japanese anemone … (more)
7/26/2011	Mulching a Flower Garden to Promote Its Beauty	Mulch is essential for the prayer garden. This article teaches how, when, and why to apply mulch … (more)
7/10/2011	Be Still, and Know That I AM LORD!	As I look back on this early Friday morning time in the prayer garden, I think of how God revealed Himself once again … (more)
7/1/2011	Maintaining Beautiful Bonica Roses	I have written about the tremendously beautiful 'Bonica' roses in the past and will no doubt write about them again. This article gives some tips about maintaining the 'Bonica' roses to their luscious optimum … (more)
6/19/2011	A Tree in Remembrance of My Dad	As I drove to a nursery where I sometimes purchase trees and shrubs, I began thinking about my dad … (more)
6/16/2011	The Magnificent Honeysuckle Vine	I find the honeysuckle vine to be one of the world's prettiest flowers. The trumpet-shaped flowers seem to herald the visitor, 'Peace be with you.' … (more)
6/10/2011	The Lovely Wood Hyacinth: Joy or Disappointment?	On Saturday, a small but lusciously harmonic collection of wood hyacinth had been in full bloom; now, three days later … (more)
5/30/2011	Columbine's Contentment	Once I saw the abundance of deep-purple columbine, I was again convinced that God wants to allow love to touch my heart and then to share that touch with others … (more)
5/15/2011	An Invitation to Enjoy the Gethsemane Prayer Garden	Have you ever visited a prayer garden? In Syracuse, New York, the Gethsemane Prayer Garden is open to the public … (more)
4/13/2011	Spring: A Season of Contrasts	Spring is a time of dramatic change. As we head into a season of God's beauty beheld in His magnificent flowers and His love, … (more)
4/2/2011	Early Spring in the Prayer Garden	Today was my first chance to work in the garden since the sudden snows arrived on December 3rd; the garden looked good as the primrose … (more)
10/22/2010	The Pin Oak in Autumn	In 2006, we planted a 15-foot pin oak in recognition of the founding pastor. Based on Isaiah 61:3, … (more)
10/3/2010	Listen and Heal Ministry's Prayer Garden	It was with a great deal of interest that I learned of another prayer garden in our area … (more)
8/13/2010	Psalm 63 Applied to Gethsemane Prayer Garden	I've sometimes pondered the question, "This garden is beautiful, but why a 'Prayer Garden'?" Psalm 63 answered for me that question … (more)
8/3/2010	A Visitor to the Prayer Garden	I will call her Helen but that is not her real name. Visibly crying, she mumbled, "I'm just going in the garden for a while." … (more)
7/31/2010	The Poison Ivy Fight	There is a small stream at the far end of the garden where I and many others just enjoy sitting. Sometimes I get distracted because I see some of that dreaded poison ivy … (more)
7/26/2010	A Daisy-Like Flower Bed in Memory of Gino	I am not much of a fan of the color yellow in a meditative garden. To me, if we are to be listening for the voice of God, we should be still or as least not excited. Yet that all changed this month thanks to a donation in memory of Gino … (more)
6/25/2010	The Beautiful 'Bonica' Roses	In June, the roses in Central New York come into their glory. It seems appropriate that the rose, in some ways representing the deep and profound love between God the Father and Christ the Son, would be seen best at Father's Day … (more)
6/24/2010	The Start of the Gethsemane Prayer Garden	The Gethsemane Prayer Garden was first envisioned independently in 1999 by two people: Pastor Lee Simmons and Alice Soule … (more)
6/14/2010	The Layout of the Gethsemane Prayer Garden	Each time we expanded, the Lord gave me a planting scheme for each bed with the interweaving of fine stone dust walkways that curve between adjacent plantings … (more)
*BOOKS by THOMAS B. CLARKE:*
	A Garden of Love	A Garden of Love is a devotional gift book that Christian women have greatly enjoyed. As a professional landscape gardener, I illustrate how thirty flowers can be used to symbolize various aspects of love as pictured in the Bible. Full color photographs help augment the understanding about the flower.
	Joshua's Spiritual Warfare – Understanding the Chiasms of Joshua	Website contains a book overview, the table of contents, a book review, numerous articles about chiasms, and an author bio
	A Topical Treasury of Proverbs	Website contains a book overview, the table of contents, some book excerpts, and a testimony about why I wrote this book