MONROE — A Bible study led to a local wave of colorful zinnias, which are attracting threatened bees and monarch butterflies.This summer, Sister Anne Wisda’s heirloom hot pink, orange, purple and yellow zinnias are blooming across Monroe, all because Monroe City Church began studying the Psalms.
“So many of her flowers are growing. It’s really exciting to see them spreading,” said Pastor Sarah Quint. She and her husband, Pastor Steve, lead Monroe City Church.Last summer, Quint noticed nature was a theme in many of the Bible’s Psalms. She started the series “Summer in the Psalms.”“I couldn’t help but notice how many references to nature and creation kind of point us to God. I always feel God when I’m out in my garden,” Quint said.
That inspired her to take the congregation beyond the Mall of Monroe , the meeting place of Monroe City Church.“We were in a windowless building talking about creation. It felt hypocritical. We want to be authentic, not just talk about it in theory. We want to live it out,” Quint said. “People really understood it. They invited us to their homes and public places.”About 15 of the congregation’s 200 attendees signed up for the creation tours. They went to flower gardens, Sterling State Park, a homesteader’s backyard and a horse farm. They spoke with hunters and fishers.“We did a whole summer of creation tours. We learned what pointed people to God,” Quint said.
The last stop was the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse on Elm Avenue. Sister Anne took the group into the Motherhouse’s Organic Garden. Quint called the space “the cathedral of creation.”"It’s the grand entry to their space. Man-man perfection just pales,” Quint said.
In the garden, Sister Anne grows vegetables for local food banks. She also created a monarch and bee waystation.“It’s mostly zinnias. They are gorgeous. She grows them just for the bees and the monarchs, the pollinators. They are quickly losing their habitats,” Quint said. “We prayed for the bees and the monarchs. Sister Anne was very sincere about it. Her heart was really for them. It was such a beautiful experience."
Then, Sister Anne offered her zinnia seeds to the church.“(In the fall) she had a huge bag. She assembled hundreds of seeds in 50 individual packets," Quint said.
Quint set them out at church.“In two Sundays, there was not a seed left. Everyone wanted Sister Anne’s zinnias. She could not have been happier. People were very excited to grow them. It will be a really big blessing to her and the bees,” Quint said.Since then, others have been inspired by Sister Anne.
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“Another lady in the congregation collected milkweed seeds. All of us who had success with our flowers and vegetables can save our seeds and share this fall or winter at the church,” Quint said. “All that started with Sister Anne’s example.”Monroe City Church is continuing its "Summer in the Psalms" and nature tours this summer. Services are at 10:30 a.m. Sundays.“It’s not just about nature. It’s really about connection and storytelling," Quint said.
To learn more about Monroe City Church, visit its website or Facebook .
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com .
Want to plant zinnias for the bees and butterflies? Get free seeds
Previous Coverage: Monroe County Library System offering free seeds
Two branches of the Monroe County Library System offer free zinnia seeds.“The Bedford Branch Library has zinnia seeds available for patrons,” said Barbra Krueger, who works in community outreach for the library system. “The Dorsch Memorial Branch Library is currently restocking its supply of zinnia seeds.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: For the bees and butterflies: Bible study leads to local wave of zinnias
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