An extended pause in posting, plus pictures

This is a picture of a cat on a leash. It’s ridiculous to take a cat out on a leash, but it does slow them down because they’re very confused.

I’m going to take an extended pause in writing. I know I have already paused for a while, but I’m now making an intentional choice and communicating it. I don’t know when I will start writing again, but I do have a lot to say, so I may start again before long.

Ironically, there is more to report on than ever. Our yard is abundant with life to the point that I cannot even record all of the things I see. And that may be why I feel the need to pause. I need to sit with everything and figure out a better way to share it.

Plus I have done the thing I set out to do. I have planted a yard and let it run wild, and it is full of life. I’m sort of looking for the next challenge. I would like to do more personal outreach to people who are considering doing this with their yards, so if you are looking for guidance on that, please contact me.

Our backyard is about 40x60 feet. Letting it go wild has created an ecosystem big enough to be the entire world for the tiniest insects. It doesn’t matter whether the neighbors use pesticides or plant only lawn, the tiny insects are safe here, and larger insects find a welcome respite of food and shelter.

You should do it too, if you’ve been considering it. And I’d like to help you if you’re stuck or not sure where to start.

Here are some pictures. It may encourage you to see that our yard is not photogenic or perfect. It really doesn’t have to be. It could be neater if we tried harder, and yours could be neater too. We just find that a certain amount of chaos allows more life to thrive.

The shaggy green plants here are mostly asters and goldenrod. They’re herbaceous perennials, but they’ve grown so strong that this morning I saw a female Cardinal jumping from stem to stem within them. The sticks are a bean trellis.

We are growing popcorn, beans, and squash.

This area looks so nice when you sit on the porch, with the tall grasses blowing, but it’s terribly unphotogenic. These brown areas all perk back up when rain comes.

The front vegetable garden and peach tree. We covered the surface of the vegetable garden with slightly decomposed wood chips to retain moisture. It’s been very helpful and has not robbed the growing plants of Nitrogen, as many people say.

This corner looks great in the fall but I need to put some spring and summer perennials in so it looks nice all season.

My favorite plant of the moment, Boneset, or Eutrochium perfoliatum. It’s covered in insects and is relatively unfazed by our current drought. One time a customer called it Bonest and that’s never stopped being funny to me. It’s a very dramatic plant, at about 6 feet tall.

Ok, that is all for me now. Talk to you again soon.