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If I had been more able-bodied this spring, this thistle would not have survived the weeding. Now I go out with my camera, looking for treasures and I see a most beautiful and dangerous looking plant minding it's own business between the end of the lily bed and the sage bent on world domination. Yes, it's prickly, but it's soft at the same time. It contains a substance that protects the human liver from damage, and can even act as an anti-inflammatory. It is a reminder that looks can be deceiving. I can sometimes identify with presenting a prickly exterior to keep those away who might do me harm, might even devour me. When you look close at those prickles, though, you see a lineny softness. Soon these will bloom into a beautiful purple flower that the bees will find irresistible. There is a metaphor in there somewhere.
This may not look like much,, but for me it's almost everything. This spring I simply wasn't mobile enough to get out in the garden. The weeds did a pretty good job of filling in. (THe lilies seem to be thriving, despite all the grass and dandelions crowding them out. There is something to be learned from that, I suspect.)
Today I watered the heck out of this little patch, spent a few hours pulling weeds and loosening up the soil. Then I finally got some plants in the ground. I usually sow seeds directly into the ground, but it's a bit late in the season for that, so the nursery got some of my money yesterday. I filled the area just behind this that looks empty right now with wildflower and red flax seeds. I hope they get enough time to germinate and bloom. It'll make a nice late summer surprise for the bees and other pollinators. |
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April 2024
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