Peanuts In My Pocket

I have a garden of sorts, but it has been neglected for a few years. I also spend a lot of time trying to attract birds and insects to my yard, so it feels natural to include plants that support both. I asked my wife if she would mind me planting a few things, then got started. With a little luck, the garden will soon be full of flowers and vegetables.

I did not realize how much work is involved. Weeding old beds is tedious. If I want to make real progress, I will need help. I’m thinking my grandkids might be in line for some extra cash, assuming I can pry them away from their iPads for a few hours.

I’ve also been learning about bugs. My main vegetable bed is full of pill bugs. I had never really gotten down close and looked at garden soil before. It’s alive with insects. In one bed, there are so many pill bugs that the soil looks like it’s moving. I’m now experimenting with ways to reduce their numbers without using pesticides. Funny how things work out. I never pictured myself retired and picking pill bugs out of garden beds, but here I am, and I enjoy it.

Gardening has a steep learning curve. I’m just getting started, but I have help. My wife has a lot of knowledge and experience, so she’s guiding me in the right direction. Wally, my AI assistant, is also there with encouragement and useful resources.

I like to think I learn by doing, but the truth is I learn by failing. Every process comes with missteps. Take yesterday, for example. I replanted a plant after its pot broke. I did a good job, mostly because it was my sixth or seventh attempt this year. Then, as I placed the pot into a holder, it broke again. It turns out clay pots do not take a beating and keep going. I need to be a gentle, jolly green giant instead of doing my usual Shrek impression.

My next step in the pill bug war is to set out potato slices and beer traps in the large bed, then pick off any pill bugs drawn to the bait. The next time someone asks how my day went, I’ll have a few war stories to share.