In the Garden

It's hard to believe it's past six - I just came in from weeding, and it's still gorgeous and sunny out there. As much as I frantically adore the long summer days here, the transition from dark to light leaves me running to catch up.

Ali and Lori keep suggesting Round-Up or some other chemical solution to the weeds that proliferate through the lawn, front and back. They see me crouched over the grass and weeds, digging up the dandelions and ripping up the other weeds, and they're suggesting a quick, easy way to spare me the chore.

I don't want to be spared. I'm a little woogy about using chemicals to begin with, and I'm having fun. I'm delighted with the wood hyacinths and their delicate blooms, the brazen colors of the tulips even when they're parked down the center of the lawn. Every earthworm I turn up in my quest to eradicate weeds is a little thrill. I even poked through my worm bin today to check up on my little composters, and they're multiplying from the scant handful I'd gotten from the Seattle Tilth store. I love using the little push-mower, with its quiet whirr of blades. Each dandelion pulled, or moonflower vine rooted out, is a little triumph of order over chaos

This is fun for me, a quiet, organic fun.