Curses

Today I was cursed in two languages I don't speak-- cat and hummingbird. Even a seven pound cat deserves some dignity. When she is engrossed in chasing a squirrel for hours on end, I do pick her up and bring her in for dinner. She called me a four letter word I had not heard before. Some day she may catch a squirrel, although they are not much smaller than she is, she is that fierce.

The hummingbird was busy chasing a lady and having a snack at the feeder and skimming by the justicia bush just where I was watering in some mulch. It got into a little spray. Normally this would not be a problem, but is was 50 degrees and dropping.  Tonight is projected to go down to 32 degrees for a couple of hours. The forecasts have been accurate lately. Even though it is after St. Patrick's Day, I do not want to take chances. I covered the purple crinum lilies because they get so disgusting when they are frost bitten, like alien mucus on a stalk.

I covered the butterfly weed because, beyond all hope, I am still waiting for the monarchs to come back. The monarchs are getting it on both ends. Food supply eradicated in the bread basket states in this country, thanks to GMO crops sprayed with herbicide, and habitat destruction in Mexico thanks to logging. I remember only four years ago when our house and the bushes out front were covered with little blue monarch chrysalises all summer long. The change happened overnight. Instead of a steady stream of munchers all year long, only half a dozen. What have we lost, besides a curious phenomenon? Pollinators. If you need a self-interested motivation, there it is. I notice a distinct difference in which plants are getting pollinated and reseeding themselves in the garden.

Personally, I don't need a reason to want the monarchs and African elephants to survive. I don't need to see them myself. I just want them to be there, somewhere, out there, living their diverse lives. I would like to see more tolerance for diversity in our world.