“‘“Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’” Matthew 13:30

When our beloved pup Darcy died in 2021, my dear friend Rebecca gave us a river-smoothed flat rock, engraved with a schnauzer image, to serve as Darcy’s grave marker.

The stone was beautiful, and I decided to make a tiny memory garden around it by planting a ring of peony roots. When next spring arrived, a flurry of leaves unfolded from the plants, topped by round flower buds.

As the blooms opened, they weren’t the same peony image on the original packaging. These flowers were bright pink and pretty, but they were flat-petaled, had yellow centers, and no fragrance. Missing were the frilly blooms I expected, the ones with a heady, sweet smell that attracts ants. But I decided not to start over…I’d just leave the “okay” plants in place for a while. 

True to form this year, the same hot pinks popped out early with spring weather warmth. And then, two weeks later, something else appeared from a different row of plants in the ring—an abundance of frilly pale pink buds. These beauties are now exploding into the giant pompon balls I had seen on the package. They smell amazing, and they’re covered with ants who are admiring them, too.

It took five seasons for the roots of these gorgeous double-ruffled peonies to blossom…right next to the single-bloom ones whose roots must have been accidentally mixed into the package. 

Jesus taught His followers about “false plants” in a parables using a similar agricultural example. His story concerned a property owner who sowed wheat. During the night, an enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat (see Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43).

The tares appeared at the same time as the wheat, and the owner’s servants asked if they should pull everything out. “No,” replied the owner, “lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest” (v. 29-30a).

According to Capitol Ministries online, tares were noxious weeds (darnel) in ancient Israel that resembled wheat but were “choking, bitter, and inedible.”¹ The combination of wheat and tares produced flour and bread that were ruined.

Jesus explained to His disciples that the “field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age” (v. 38-40).

It’s a sober warning. The tares are people who appear to be Christians but are sowing discontent, discord, disbelief, and discouragement within the body of Christ. Like the weedy tares, they are pretenders, falsely proclaiming a gospel different from the truth. The good property owner (Jesus) promised, though, that the righteous believers will be recognized eventually, shining forth as bright lights in their Father’s kingdom. 

There’s a clear correlation to my peonies. I wouldn’t describe the single-bloom variety as “tares” (I’m not throwing them in the fire), but they are certainly a contrast to the more lavish blossoms. The two plants resembled each other in early stages but were distinguishable in full bloom. Both are pretty, but they come from different roots.

Friend, can you identify “tares” in your church? The proud ones who coax others into disobedience to God’s ways? The false teachers? Worse, would you identify yourself as a “tare”?

As Paul exhorted the church at Ephesus, ^“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).”

When you’re rooted in Jesus, He gives you a strong desire to dwell with Him, to grow to be more like Him in every way. As my long-awaited fluffy blossoms resembled the ones on the original packaging, Jesus calls us to look more like Him—in lovingkindness, patience, perseverance, and strength. We are also called to share His winsome fragrance with the rest of the world.

If you see some peonies this week, take a moment to bend down and stick your nose deep into their gentle petals. Breathe in the loveliness of their fragrance. Remember Jesus, and ask Him to grow you into His faithful follower where He has planted You. 

Beautiful Savior Jesus Christ, thank You for the lesson of the peonies and their long-awaited arrival. Please help me learn every day how to grow closer to You, to be more like You. Guard me from the evil that Satan attempts to sow into my heart and among my church family. Plant me in Your kingdom work, that I may serve You always. In Your blessed name, Amen.

Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom. 

© Copyright 2026 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #Jesus #peonies #doublebloom #wheat #tares #harvest #memorygarden #schnauzer

¹ https://capmin.org/nine-characteristics-of-tares-the-believers-enemy/