Ideals
I have an ideal garden in  my mind. I started to plant  it after reading Ann  Lovejoy’s ‘Year Round  Garden’. I added to it when  I read ‘Square Foot  Gardening’. In spite of more  than eight relocations, I’ve  replanted what I could of  my ideals in each location.

Since I haven’t been walking  as much in new locations  in Coquille, I haven’t  given you garden tours, but  that will change soon. Today  you get the garden tour of  my ideal garden.  The sound of bees moving  around plays in the  background of my mind as I  wander this garden, for out  of every three bites of food I  take, one of them is due to  the hard work of these or  other industrious pollinators.  There are a few dandelions,  because in my ideal garden I  don’t use the toxic sprays  that are eliminating these  essential pollinators, and in  my real garden, after I gain  control over extremely invasive  plant species, I actually  am moving toward this  ideal.

Birds are discovering  food sources in my garden,  and I spot some travelling  butterflies enroute on their  migration up and down the  coast supping on what once  were common food plants  for them.  My year round garden  has flowers in every season,  with something always of  interest, shape, or color to  feed the eye. There is a  place where children are  running wild in and out of  trees, and some trees are  being climbed. I have  enough flowers to cut and  share in bouquets, and my  vegetable garden needs  tending.

(The tending part  will likely always be true.)  There are places where  friends are wandering over,  and feel free to remain, talking,  laughing, and I know  eventually we’ll move  toward sharing a meal  together. This year I will  add a croquet set. Ideals and  reality will move a little  closer.