Bravo, Mary!!! You have fed my soul with your marvelous metaphor…I am a gardener, retired English teacher, and frustrated Democrat! Your wonderfully prosaic column is a joy to read!! Thank you for your elegant, analytical thoughts about the crazy regime we are enduring!!
This is the best article I have read about where we need to go without destroying our physical and mental health in the process.
As I was taught as an apprentice: “it is not a race, it is a marathon”. Deliberate does not necessarily mean slow but it is focused. It is also necessary.
Shanley, i can empathize with your bindweed problem. My issue is mugwort. It spreads via underground roots throwing up a new plant every few inches. Evidently, this evil was transported with a plant purchased at a big box store, as I've never encountered it before.
Yes, it's definitely a metaphor for our current administration: the more you pull, the more it grows, as in every day the grifting and lawlessness keeps springing up.
I've begun hitting it with (sorry) glycophosphate early in the spring when it first shows it's ugly head. Yeah, I know it's edible and probably has some medicinal qualities. If anyone wants some, I'll be more than happy to share 😊
I love reading about your gardening. I used to raise red wigglers and mason bees for the garden. In the past I worked in summer camp at the zoo. We took a week to explore banana slugs, worms, etc. to discover how they help nature. It was a big hit, (next to giraffes and elephants). I like your metaphors.
Thanks for yet another of your nourishing garden-as-metaphor articles, Shanley! I tell you, they nourish this tired 84-year-old's soul like a good bowl of home-grown veggie stew.
Again another wonderful piece. Not being of the green thumb persuation, I had to check a plant app to have a visual; however, I ended with a mental image of how deeply embedded Trumpism is even beyond the confines of federal office space (and as Mary has done in her previous descriptions of local government in your area). There is so much work to be done and I hope I stay sentient long enough to experience that renewal.
Bravo, Mary!!! You have fed my soul with your marvelous metaphor…I am a gardener, retired English teacher, and frustrated Democrat! Your wonderfully prosaic column is a joy to read!! Thank you for your elegant, analytical thoughts about the crazy regime we are enduring!!
,
I agree! The Garden metaphor articles are Mary's daughter Shanley, who writes crazy-beautifully.
This is the best article I have read about where we need to go without destroying our physical and mental health in the process.
As I was taught as an apprentice: “it is not a race, it is a marathon”. Deliberate does not necessarily mean slow but it is focused. It is also necessary.
Thank you!
Trump followers are slugs. Remove them from the garden and generously cover with salt.
Shanley, i can empathize with your bindweed problem. My issue is mugwort. It spreads via underground roots throwing up a new plant every few inches. Evidently, this evil was transported with a plant purchased at a big box store, as I've never encountered it before.
Yes, it's definitely a metaphor for our current administration: the more you pull, the more it grows, as in every day the grifting and lawlessness keeps springing up.
I've begun hitting it with (sorry) glycophosphate early in the spring when it first shows it's ugly head. Yeah, I know it's edible and probably has some medicinal qualities. If anyone wants some, I'll be more than happy to share 😊
Thank you for your good work!
Bindweed is a scourge. So is Trump. Thank you
Perfect metaphor. Bravo for recognizing it and describing it so well.
I love reading about your gardening. I used to raise red wigglers and mason bees for the garden. In the past I worked in summer camp at the zoo. We took a week to explore banana slugs, worms, etc. to discover how they help nature. It was a big hit, (next to giraffes and elephants). I like your metaphors.
Had to share on Facebook again. Most of my friends are gardeners and will relate to this with a rueful grin as I did. Kudos and gratitude again!!!
Excellent essay. I certainly will never look at all the bindweed in the yard the same again.
Thanks for yet another of your nourishing garden-as-metaphor articles, Shanley! I tell you, they nourish this tired 84-year-old's soul like a good bowl of home-grown veggie stew.
Again another wonderful piece. Not being of the green thumb persuation, I had to check a plant app to have a visual; however, I ended with a mental image of how deeply embedded Trumpism is even beyond the confines of federal office space (and as Mary has done in her previous descriptions of local government in your area). There is so much work to be done and I hope I stay sentient long enough to experience that renewal.
Brilliance….again! I’m coming to expect these brilliant pieces from you Shanley. 😉 A series of dispatches from the garden could never be a fail. ☺️
Any bindweed in New Zealand?