garden – Making it in Toledo

Good morning, Doctor

No, not Dr. Ross, although I greeted him first. In this post I am referring to Dr. Seuss, because that is what the newest flowers in my garden call to my mind with their crazy shapes and wild colors.

Spider Flower, Cleome

I don’t remember cleome in my grandmother’s garden, but I love this old-fashioned plant. The toughest thing about caring for it is choosing which seedlings to discard in order to let the remaining plants flourish.

Purpletop Vervain, Verbena

I’m sure I bought this plant once, probably because, although I haven’t watched The Vampire Diaries, I somehow remember their description of Vervain: One that makes vampire skin burn and strength wane; a secret weapon preventing them from compelling humans to do their will. Now, it has migrated throughout my backyard gardens, which is fine because it is a “see-through plant” and doesn’t block the light or my vision of its neighbors.

Milkweed

Since I bought this common milkweed from Monarch Watch, it has reliably hosted all stages of monarchs. Not this year, at least so far. No butterflies, no eggs, no caterpillars. I still have hope.

Independence Day Struggles

I used to look down on people who shopped through Amazon. I considered it unethical to spend money without trying to keep at least some of it close to home. That’s not an attitude I can afford to take any more. I still have localist leanings, but the pile of boxes in my entryway gives it away. I want things that aren’t available in local stores, and I like the convenience of tracking them down online. Isn’t it ironic, on Independence Day, to be so dependent on Jeff Bezos?

I’m still a localist, though, when it comes to food and my garden. My garden is not particularly colorful, but it is beautiful, and I gladly share it with the birds and the pollinators. No poisons, both for reasons of ethics and to protect myself and my family. Less gladly, I occasionally share with the deer. Ethics didn’t stop me from being grateful when the herd was culled. Along with occasional hired help, I maintain my garden and am eternally grateful to the guys who helped build it many years ago, Tom Schoen and Craig Wilkowski. When I spend time weeding, I know I’ll be achy and stiff for days, but sometimes I need to feel virtuous and hard-working.

My yard is too shady to grow vegetables, but my Shared Legacy Farms CSA provides seasonal organic ingredients. We eat a lot of meat free meals and I buy responsibly raised meats. I cultivate a range of herbs that make it into most meals. This year I’m particularly enjoying chervil. There’s milkweed for the monarchs, and the birds love perching in the fig tree.

“Ethics is nothing else than reverence for life.” Albert Schweitzer

As an American, I am ashamed of my country, but I am trying to be an ethical individual.

Ruling the WOrld

It’s a Sunday in June. Here are a few of the things that make the day wonderful:

Peonies are blooming. And the grape irises. Roses are budded. Water in the frog pond is clearing, thanks to barley pellets. At the feeders I see hummingbirds, orioles, woodpeckers, blue jays, sparrows, cardinals, catbirds and tufted titmouses (titmice?). And, less happily, greedy grackles (Loi says “crackles”)

Some, but not all, of the tomatoes I planted are flourishing. Some re-planting and re-placing will be necessary. As always, it’s good to know that we have our CSA for actual food, because I am no farmer.

I rarely harvest much, but I am unable to stop trying.

Olivia is with us this week. We’ll see Sam next weekend for the big 4-year birthday party. So lucky to have children who visit.

Finally managed to schedule a much-needed plumber visit for tomorrow, thanks to Johanna, who is sick and tired of the ribbon-powered alternate arrangement of the flushing mechanism.

It’s a small world, plagued by mosquitoes, poison ivy, weeds, and the occasional marauding deer. “Ruling it” translates to lots of work on hands and knees, pulling out the small plants that don’t belong in the brick paths or crowding the herbs and flowers. But it grounds me and gives me the energy to help make the larger world better. I am grateful for it.