My mom pointed out she had not seen any Japanese beetles this summer.
Come to think of it, neither have I.
In the spring I destroyed, OK, I killed a few grubs I found while digging in the dirt. Its hard for a vegetarian to admit she kills, but its not like I could relocate them to a sanctuary for crop destroyers.
Typically when they have been a problem, they tend to favor the roses and leave most other plants alone.
Needless to say, the roses look grand this year despite the morning glory takeover.
***
Each spring I am so excited to see new things growing I forget how crazy the morning glories get this time of the summer.
So prolific they are I can barely see any other plants in the beds. They have trellises of their own but they have intermingled with the mints, the hostas, the hydrangeas and the roses.
Ever summer I tell myself I am going to pull volunteer morning glories as soon as I see them in spring.
But I dont and I end up with a crazy tangled mess that looks wild and really rather wonderful against the background of our much lived in 148-year-old home.
It looks so Victorian, my mom will say.
And it provides habitat for the birds and bunnies that gather at the feeders and birdbaths that require daily attention.
***
I have a pet peeve.
Lawns should not be mowed at night.
Period.
I understand people work odd shifts and the dreaded weekly task of summer must be accomplished when it possible to do it, but after 8 p.m., my official cutoff time for mowing, weed trimming, chain sawing and pretty much any yard work that disturbs my peace, should cease.
Enough already.
***
So, you finally did it. You planted a garden. It got off to a slow start but it eventually began to bear fruit and vegetables.
A lot of vegetables.
So many vegetables you couldnt keep up.
You checked out all those books from the library about freezing and canning and preserving summers bounty but while you read them, more fruits and vegetables became overly ripe before you could even pick them, let alone preserve them.
You thought about ripening fruits and vegetables all day at your job.
Was there someone you could call?
Your spouse noticed your tension and insisted you go out for dinner. Just as you were about to take the first bite of your garden salad you shrieked in horror about the cucumbers turning that odd color of yellow that clearly means the fruit is past its prime.
Some think the hardest part about gardening is getting the plants to grow. The hardest thing about gardening is maintaining it. Listen to it, do what it asks. If the soil is dry, water it. If weeds are out of control, control them. If pests are eating your plants, eliminate them.
And if a perfectly ripe cucumber, pepper, tomato or leaf of lettuce appears pick it and eat it.
