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Returning to the garden

I've been out of the garden-both mentally and physically-for a while.

I didn't realize how much I missed it until I opened the gate yesterday afternoon. Everything has turned deep red or a shade of brown ranging from off white to deep chocolate. The finches were making short work of the seed pods, and the grass and clover between the rows needed to be cut.

Lots of things kept me away-the weight of work, routine housework and the frenzied activity generated by pointless anxiety about things I can't control.

Here's the irony: That's what the garden is for. When you're in that space, the tidiness of your sock drawer doesn't matter. Nor does the condition of your in-box at work. Reporters are only allotted 40 hours (well, 37.5 with furlough) for work, so we all do as much as we can. Unfortunately, most of us carry it home, as though worrying about the short story on the church expansion is going to help get it done.

In the garden, I remember that I write because I love to write, and garden because I like the taste of snap peas off the vine and warm tomatoes.

Hi Gang,

Frost has found us.

For those interested, we have a workday this Saturday (October 17) from 8 am until noon. We’ll be planting bulbs and removing annuals in the entrance garden near the Parker Education Center. We have 3,000 tulips, 500 allium and 500 daffodils to get in the ground (priority) and will then shift to flower bed clearing.

Meet at the main parking lot of the visitors center at 8 am sharp, dress for the weather, bring gloves and we’ll get busy.

Thanks!

Mark