Independence Day

Asparagus flower. Who knew?

Independence Day. It's been a while since I posted, but this day inspires me to put thoughts out to the universe. Why those words? Partly because more than half the population has lost a chunk of Independence in this country of patriots; secondly because I feel like only an invasion from outer space (referencing the movie) could possibly unite us, and thirdly because Jeff Goldblum is my 2nd favorite male nerd ever.

But I digress. The weather here today is such that one wonders how one could ever live anywhere else. Things are blooming crazy everywhere, the cerulean sky (thank you, Dave Nachmanoff) is hung with big puffy clouds, and the temperature is about 75F with light winds and low humidity. 

Beginning the Local

The day started off with our local hike. . . out the back yard and down through the forest. Wherever sunlight makes it to the ground, things grow and bloom. The blackberries have progressed from flowers to small green fruit, and the lowbush blueberries are ripening. I ate two of them today. Yay. Flowers are too numerous to name, but they include daisies, black-eyed Susans, all manner of clover, asters, Queen Anne's lace, buttercups, good grief. I didn't bring my phone today, so I don't have today's images, but I promise that I'll include some in the next post. Well. Promise may be a strong word to use, given my memory. Smile.

The yard is also holding forth. I'll pick green beans (Blue Lake Bush beans. . . I didn't have time to build a trellis for the usual Kentucky Wonder Pole beans) in the next couple of days, the kale is too much. Just too much. A groundhog is lending us a hand in eating it, which of course is a bit of a worry. He's also chomping on eggplant and zucchini leaves. .

Wild blackberries moving from flower to fruit

I looked into the forest today beyond our rhubarb planting and saw a Foxglove in full bloom. Nice to know that I have some Digitalis on hand should I need it! I'm tempted to bring it inside, but I want it to go to seed and populate the surrounding forest.

After our hike, I noodled around in the garden for a while. Pulled some of the Mint-gone-wild, did a little watering of the transplants and the shade garden (it's starting to get a little dry, and I don't want anyone having to go without), pondered the Groundhog situation (Jasper is not taking the hint on this), and then I sat on the stone bench under the weeping crab apple with my coffee and looked at the woods. Our front door is blocked with a couple of sawhorses and a note that says "Phoebe nesting. Please use other door." Sometimes I feel like I've fallen into another very beautiful world, but the nightly PBS News Hour and the occasional tick I remove after a walk remind me otherwise.

The meditation rock on Messalonskee Stream

 

July 4th has been a rough day for me since 2020. I could imagine that the 2016 election of a lying narcissistic misogynist was a one-off up until then. But on July 4th 2020, I realized that we are not the country I thought we were. We did not defeat racism with the Civil Rights Bill, we did not defeat war with the Vietnam war protests. We did not win equal rights for women. And who knew that we were still capable of discriminating against. . more than that. . .hating. . Asians? Jews? Muslims? 

We are tribal, and if we can't find a way to evolve, we will destroy ourselves.  

The view from the rock

In the meantime, I will be grateful for the beauty in our world, try to grow, do what I can, and continue to hope. At some point, though, resistance may well have to become fighting-like-hell. What a shame.