Gardening in the clouds

Some days I am in the mood and some days I am not. Having a choice is the beauty of unscheduled days.

This morning was one of the "in the mood" days as I put on heavy clothes and mosquito repellent and went out into the garden for a few early cooler hours. I was pruning a little but mostly clearing vines and weeds. Every time I moved to a different part of the garden, a whole new cloud of mosquitoes came to investigate and figure out that a bad taste was in between them and a snack. The clouds in the shaded corners were most persistent, like one around the compost heap in the back, in the woods, sheltered from the breeze.

I learned that although the vines cover plants, block sunlight and air, and compete for water, they also shade the roots of delicate plants and help the mulch conserve moisture. In the long run, however, I would prefer they stay in the woods and out of the flower beds, so I will continue my clearing efforts on the days that I can muster the energy to armor myself against the bugs.