My lifestyle is no longer a common one. Years ago when we drove to town I would admire all the gardens along the way. The garden was a part of almost every ranch and farm. They are becoming few and far between.

Gardens were often considered “women’s work”. The husband would head off with the tractor to the field (sometimes after working the garden in the spring) and the wife would “plant the garden”. There is something about planting a garden and watching how a little seed can turn into a delicious, nutritious source of food that is good for the soul. Or a beautiful flower with intricate petals and a color that delights your eyes. A dove cooed on the power line above the garden while I planted the peas this spring. Nature doesn’t hesitate to entertain if you watch and listen.

The tulips are pretty much done but the lady slippers are starting to bloom as are the Japanese peonies and some iris and shooting stars and snow drops and various other beauties.

We have 2 sets of crows. One likes to run his shadow over you when you are working in the garden or riding in the ring. Previously we had a couple of really quite tame crows. The neighbour shot one and the other has disappeared now too. He would sit in the tree above my lawn chair and caw. If I cawed 3 times, he would caw 3 times. 2 times got 2 caws. The limit seemed to be 5 or 6.

We are pretty much into live and let live around here. Over the years we have had to eliminate a couple of coyotes – one wouldn’t leave the caving cows alone and the other was super mangy and it was 40 below so it was a mercy killing. There are a lot of critters who call this ranch home at least part of the time. Much of our land is in a conservation program. It makes for really nice places to go for a ride.

It is with a great deal of gratitude that I have lived my life here on a ranch and had the opportunity to have gardens. You will feel much better after an hour in the garden than an hour watching the news.

Or maybe some of us just like to bury our heads in the sand. (or garden).