Oh, the best laid plans

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. My attitude toward gardening is pretty Darwinian.

I try to plant stuff that I don't think will die, but if I've planted it in a good place and provided enough water and it dies anyhow, so it goes. My garden is my whole yard (got rid of my turf grass several years ago), and it pretty well manages itself because most of the plants are native and are able to crowd out the weeds. I do have to stay on top of a few invasives like creeping bellflower and Asiatic dayflower, but I've let the wild ginger, joe-pye weed, echinacea, monarda and solomon's-seal grow pretty much where they want to. In a couple more weeks it will be colorful and full of happy bees.