Since moving from our house on the hill in San Anselmo, to the flat land in Fairfax- we now have a flat yard and a garden. Lucky for me, the woman who previously owned this house, was in the landscaping business at one time and she created two lovely gardens in the front and back yards. I didn't have to start from scratch, I just fill in the blank spots and try to keep what was planted before I got here alive and well. It is a job in itself to keep it all well. It is not a job without its rewards ... or problems.

Since moving here in October, I have been treated to all kinds of surprises in the garden. I watched the leaves fall in Autumn and the barren trees toss and sway in the wind and rain of Winter. As Spring came, we saw the tiny leaves come back to the trees and now they are full and green. Spring also brought other surprises: orange lilies, white blossoms on the pear tree, purple wisteria hanging from the trellis. My first vegetables, little sproutlings that I had to wait and wait for (a watched pot....). Now, almost August, we finally have the heat (It felt like it would NEVER come with rain all the way into June) the zinnias are starting to grow taller, lambs ear is spreading out, the pear tree is dripping will fruit, tomatoes are ripening to a red red. Zucchini is coming out our ears! Orange Canna is ablaze against chartreuse leaves. The pink Hollyhocks I planted from tiny starters are six feet tall! I've always wanted Hollyhocks! It is like a little treasure hunt when I take a wander outside to what is happening in the garden.

It's not all treasure though.... like anything, there are issues to deal with. Weeds! Endless invasive weeds. No matter how I pull and pluck, there is always another one at my back. The tiny little sweet peas I planted climbed to 7 feet and then had an infestation of aphids. Some rose bushes have blackspot, the hydrangea never did live up to my expectations (maybe because I cut it back to far in the Winter?) I worry I am not fertilizing enough, pruning enough, sweeping enough. Another concern are the holes that some critter is digging out front near the picket fence near the curb. Is it a squirrel, a gopher, a snake? I pored a bunch of dirt in the holes to see what happens. I don't think just filling in the holes is going to cut it. I am contemplating covering them with mesh fencing. Something tells me I should take stronger measures...

Like life, there is always something to savor, learn about, and confront.