Wild onions wave their wiry shoots above the emerging green grass. Wire grass, the bane of gardeners everywhere, begins its meandering claim in the garden path. Blackberry briars and pokeberry vines begin their massive grasp at the forest edge emerging from dormant roots of the season past. Wild onions, wire grass, blackberry briars, and pokeberry vines are not in this gardener’s design for this season. As I recall, they were not in my father’s design either, some fifty years ago. His efforts failed to eradicate the perceived pests as surely ours will meet the same end. The dance for dominance will be engaged yet again this season with the steps of tugs, clipping, whacking, and grunting. Some headway will be made that will render the landscape crafted more to our liking. Ultimately, however, the shoots, seeds, rhizomes and roots will give victory to the plants that have long claimed the terrain as they emerge yet again next spring at the edge of the yard beside the entry to the forest. Recognizing nature’s bent toward life we are best served by making friends with the season’s proliferation and not be discouraged by our need to revisit the pruning process. Learning to live as the intruder and being ever so well accommodated has been a valuable lesson. Today is another opportunity at the feet of the Instructor. Let the lesson begin!
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