As this summer starts to wind down, I am still enjoying my gardens, which have flourished this year. It is a veritable Garden of Eden in my backyard. The combination of vegetable plants, fruit trees and manicured flower gardens bring me great joy. But can I take full credit? I do not think so.
It seems at some point, I employed an all-natural landscaping group, unbeknownst to me. Their results have been incredible.
First, I believe I should give credit to the Deer Decorating Department. Apparently, these clever workers do their best work in the wee hours of the morning, munching and controlling the branches and flowers of my many hosta and other plants that line the walkway.
They worked hard to keep those pesky plants from spilling over into the path. These energetic workers are photogenic as well, appearing on my front door Ring camera, happily chomping these plants into decorative submission.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the Air Division of Reseeding, better known as birds. These hard workers have a knack for scattering seeds in places where I do not have gardens, thus coloring the yard even further.
I cannot tell you how many Rose of Sharon bushes I have growing off the beaten path! Perhaps these birds are the feng shui masters of the natural world, strategically placing various exotic plants, by air mail droppings. Who am I to argue with these outdoor decorators?
A bumblebee covered in pollen rests on a fig leaf. (Terry Alburger)
Perhaps the busiest of my outdoor crews is the Bee Battalion, which delights in pollinating the many flowering bushes and plants that abound. These gentle gems carry pollen from plant to plant, flower to flower, encouraging healthy plant reproduction, and also nourishing their larvae.
They seem to love zinnias and Rose of Sharon, both of which are in abundance. Bees are interesting little guys and in my yard, they abound.
One could not talk about natural gardeners without mentioning the rabbits. This group of overachievers goes a bit too far. I know these cuties are probably just trying to help with the trimming and pruning, but they invariably go too far.
My green beans and lettuce were pruned back a bit too much in short order and are now nonexistent. I’m sure they were just trying to help. And it’s hard to get mad at those adorable little critters.
Though I’m not a fan, the Arachnid Army has an important function in my yard, one other than to just scare me half to death. The spiders in my backyard are formidable, to say the least. And their strategy is stealthy.
I have an orb-weaver who I swear makes eye contact with me when I get too close! She is an interesting lady. She is nocturnal, spins a majestic web on the frame of my greenhouse at night. She then proceeds to eradicate the mosquito, gnats and other flying pests from my gardens. I have even seen random lantern flies succumb, always an added bonus.
By morning, there is no evidence that she ever existed! She has taken the web down, but I know that come evening, she’ll be back to do it all again, and help me keep the garden pest-free.
I supposed I’d be remiss if I did not credit my black Lab, Koda for keeping the yard vermin population down. Koda is the guardian of the grass, the policer of pests. She has superpowers, and can sense the presence of a squirrel, vole or rabbit from inside the house.
Once outside, she will bolt at breakneck speed, give chase and quickly deport the invaders to the yard of my neighbors.
I love my force of natural landscapers and enjoy the fruits of their labors. Next time you’re outside, look around. There is a lot going on in our fascinating natural world. The best part? They do it all for free! Ah, the joys of the great outdoors!
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