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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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WEEDING LESSON
I had never been to a "Fabulous Weeding Party" before, but what else does one do on Cinco de Mayo in the Pacific Northwest? The invitation said the party would be from 10 a.m. until noon. So with gardening tools in hand, I showed up at the appointed time and found a small group of adults by the garden ready to work. Our fearless leader gave us the lay of the land throughout the large garden, and let us each choose our own location to begin weeding. We were somewhat spread out, and not really close enough to chat while we worked. The warm spring temperature, light breeze, and repetitive weeding soon had me in a very meditative state. It was that refreshing place where the mind is quieted and time has no meaning -- the same cherished place I go while walking, swimming laps, or knitting. In my reflective solitude I remembered a geography professor who defined weeds as plants growing in a place where they are not wanted. Clearly, that definition fit the plants I was removing from the soil and placing in my bucket. Some of them were pulled easily out of the crumbly, moist soil. Others held on tenaciously. Those stubborn weeds were the ones with extensive root structures, often as long or longer than the plant parts above ground. Some had roots connected to subterranean systems that supported numerous plants. Others had massive clumps of roots supporting themselves only. Then there were a few with brittle roots that snapped off and remained in the ground, waiting to produce a replacement for the weed I removed. Two hours later, as our hostess served guacamole with tortilla chips, cantaloupe, Mexican wedding cookies, and lemonade, my mind returned to the weeding. I wondered what sort of root system I have for support when strong forces try to pluck me out of a place where I'm not wanted. It bears consideration.
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