It’s August. It’s August? But we were just counting down the days until school was out. And making glorious lists of all things possible in summer. Now, we are making lists of all things that need to be crammed into summer. Because of that meddling word: “August.” What can we make happen and what do we cross off the list? Visions of growing a red rose bush against the barn wall danced through my gloved hands as I ripped out all the weeds beside the barn. That was on Mother’s Day. Mmm… the future splendor of that hidden garden scene. I planted the bush and my gardening friend planted the bare branch for which the climber could rise high against the barn where red bits of beauty would pop out as I walked through the garden gate. Succulents would cascade off the window ledge. Crazy giddy that.
I watered the bush regularly for a couple weeks. I made a mind-map of where I would let the vegetation be natural and where I would plant wild flower seeds and late-summer blooming zinnias. I bought the seeds.
Then came crazy old June.
And in mid-July, I eagerly opened the garden gate – anticipating the ocular sensory punch. It got me right in the gut. Here, fill in any words of shock and disbelief. Mine: “Huh, I guess I didn’t get the roots.” Taming ten-plus years of a weed garden will take more than one clearing a season. I decide to wait until I have a good chunk of time to tackle this.
Come early August, I walk up to the edge and peer into the jungle. I see a few red specks. Roses blooming under that tangle. I see succulents through the sprouted volunteer bush-tree. And I am amazed by the vegetation.
However, I back away quicker than I approach. What is happening here? Why does this look like a giant’s salad bowl?
Time to readjust the hidden garden vision. I recognize this climber from last year: it will turn red in the fall. And that will be the red beauty this year. Oh, that glorious summer list. I crossed off “clean out the mutant weeds” because I crossed off “research mutant weeds to see if they are poisonous.” Perhaps "mysterious weed research" is on the list for when the snow flies.
Right now, we need to go fly a kite.