It’s the lazy days of summer. I hope you’re making the most of
the season. They will become the memories that’ll get you through
the dark, cold days of winter. Ignore the to-do list and savor the
pleasures of summer.
Summer Nights
Wrapped in the
thick air
heavy with heat
laden with moist
Watching
fireflies
mimic the stars
against black
velvet
Serenaded boldly
by tree frogs
and crickets
Fanned from on
high
wings of bats
on purposeful
sorties
While night moths
answer service
calls
of moonflowers
and gardenias
Spicy notes of
phlox
rise with the
night
perfumed with
clove,
oil of bergamot
essence of rose
Lulled into
well being
content to remain
Greet the dew
of a new day.
–
Shobha Vanchiswar
Summer Dive
Sunlight spills
brilliant
diamonds
blinding ripples
shimmering winks
sliced apart
by summer’s first dive.
-Shobha Vanchiswar
Summer Joy
Summer
spreads wide
a
picnic blanket
of
meadow flowers and green, green grass
For
legs to brush against
bodies
to lie back
To
gaze upon
lofty
images of dogs and bears and hunting giants
From
dazzling day to evening glitter
Dew
gathers to mist
sun-warmed faces and naked toes
Summer
seems
like
an endless ride
filled
with ice-cream cones and fireflies
Of
water fights and watermelon wedges
children’s
laughter intoxicated
on
improbable tales
An
ephemeral age, an ephemeral time
summer passes overnight.
– Shobha Vanchiswar
Note:The Small Works exhibit is on through August. Do make time to see it!
Liberty
is the freedom to do as one ought to do.
I
learned this definition in fifth grade civics class – it was how we
started to understand what democracy meant.
A
cornerstone of a thriving civilization, freedom is all about having
choices. So one can chose their actions bearing
in mind one’s moral responsibility. To
choose to act after discerning between right and wrong, good and
evil. To do what is ethically correct for the greater good.
Keeping
that in mind, I take this power very seriously. Especially in the
garden where all too often a gardener is inclined to play lord and
master. It’s so
easy. We
have at our disposal so much control and power that all too often we
forget that gardening is a privilege. The very notion that I can
assume ownership of a piece of earth to do as I please is astounding.
Arrogant even.
While
I often kid that I’m the dictator-in-chief of the garden, in
reality, I feel my responsibility greatly. I’m allowed to freely
design, create and play in a this space in whatever way I please.
Within good
reason. And
that is the key. To use good reason.
My
principle commandment is to do
no harm.
Whatever action taken must have the least negative impact – on
humans, animals, plants, soil, water or air. On
that basis,
only organic methods are employed. But, trying to control pests
organically is not without cost. These natural products are not
specific to the
pest.
They affect the
good critters as well. So judicious application is imperative.
Compost
is used as fertilizer and mulch. The plants enjoy it. As do members
of the animal kingdom. They too
thrive because they are not harmed by compost and hence roam free and
make nests and homes underground and above, destroying root systems,
chomping on leaves and flowers, girdling trees, ruining lawns with
tunnels and burrows etc., Constant
vigilance is required so action can be taken as soon as possible.
Japanese beetles, red lily beetles and such are picked off and
dropped into hot, soapy water. After
years of battling those red devils, I’ve
stopped planting lilies but since I still grow fritillaria (
their close relative),
I must continue
to keep
a lookout. Mice, voles and other rodents are trapped. The
fruit trees must be sprayed with dormant oil only under specific
weather
conditions
and
at a particular time of year.
You
get the idea. It’s
not always easy to do the right thing.
Rain
water is collected, a
manual
reel-
mower cuts grass, since no herbicides are used, weeds are removed by
hand, native plants dominate the garden and support native fauna and
so on. Every one of those methods involves more work and effort. And
there are times when I’m completely frustrated. However, my
conscience is clear. I’m doing my part in exercising my freedom as
I ought.
This translates very well to everything else in life. Relationships, raising children, at work, being a part of the community, a town, a city, a country, the world at large. Imagine how powerful exercising our liberties as we should can be.
Note: The reception to Small Works is this Thursday, August 8. I’d love to see you there!
A few images of the challenges in the garden:
Mice attack on the espalier.Fully girdled trees were lost and had to be replaced.Sanguisorba attacked by Japanese beetles
Subsequent damageEvidence of voles under the front lawnLily’s under siege
I’ve just returned from a trip to India. A family reunion took me there and it was wonderful. Naturally, I also made sure to visit the children at Mukta Jivan Orphanage ( I shall be posting abut that on the Lucky Ones page soon). Overall, this was a time of connecting and reaffirming love and support. I am so grateful for it all.
However, ( you knew a ‘but’ was coming right?) there was something else that kept us company the whole time. The air quality in Mumbai was just awful. The haze that hung over the city could not be ignored as breathing in these conditions was hampered. It surprised me that people seemed unconcerned and even a marathon was held. When I said something about it, one person responded – “ One gets used to it and eventually, our lungs get stronger”! Yikes!
Meanwhile, we spent our time coping with runny noses, severe hacking, dry coughs and wearing masks when we went out. The air-purifier we used inside showed red ( poor air quality) all the time; At best it changed to purple briefly.
It
cannot be emphasized enough that this is a serious problem and only
getting worse. Globally.
I’m
happy to be home and breathing significantly cleaner air. At the same
time I ask, will
this always be so? Not
if we don’t do everything we can to make it so. Globally.
This is not a geographical or partisan or socioeconomic crisis. Every single one of us is responsible and affected.
I
know I don’t need to elaborate further – you know to take action.
Do something!
Every
effort makes a difference.
I’m not going to post any photos. Instead, I’m sharing two “Climate Change” poems I wrote in 2016 and 2011 respectively
Getting
Dressed Down
Sans fur or feather We dress and groom In borrowed leather simulated plumes
Note: I’m thrilled to have a painting in the juried art show “Winter In America” .The exhibit runs January 3-February 2, 2019. If you’re in the area, I hope you will visit it.
A
new year has begun. That connotes so much – new beginnings, fresh
resolves, high hopes, overdue changes. The potential is high and the
possibilities endless. My pulse quickens as I consider how much I
want to achieve. Even while I’m aware that my ambition verges on
the unrealistic, I’m still excited to indulge in dreaming big.
There
is however, one thing weighing heavy on my mind. Climate change and
our part in it. The evidence is undeniable and yet, not enough is
being done to mitigate the circumstances. To make matters worse,
policies meant to change and improve our practices have been undone
and climate-change deniers are reinstating old, destructive ways. I
am truly worried.
At
this rate, we’re hurtling towards self-destruction. This most
beautiful, blue-green home planet of ours will cease to sustain life
as we know it. There will be nothing for future generations to
inherit. Heck, there won’t be any future generations.
As
I see it, while we await the leadership to do something positive,
each of us must do our utmost to fulfill our own responsibilities.
I’m fortunate to live in a far-thinking, proactive town. Our water
meets and exceeds current standards, we recycle, compost and mulch,
businesses no longer provide plastic shopping bags, our electricity
is generated mostly from wind and solar power, our parks and
preserves are responsibly maintained and as a whole, we are an
environmentally conscious community. Yet, we could do more.
I’d
like to see ‘quiet days’ instituted – when the use of power
equipments are not permitted. Even one day a week of this would be
significant. Not only in the elimination of noise and air pollution
but by being a consistent practice, it would keep us aware of the
need to do right by the environment.
We
ought to strongly advocate the use of our school buses – if we
stopped dropping our children off ourselves, imagine what a
difference this would make. One can justify/make excuses about why
one must take a child to and from school in a car but seriously, in
the end, it is mostly about the ease and convenience. Admittedly
there are exceptions but the norm ought to be to ride
the bus. No one said
doing the right thing would be easy.
We
have got to start thinking of what’s good for the entire community
and not simply our own individual selves/families. The cars we buy,
our household use of energy, how we maintain our gardens, the
products (and the packaging) we use at home etc., Every effort is
impactful.
On
my part, I’m determined to up my game.
As
I reflect on the year just passed, I’ve decided on how to celebrate
the lives of those dear friends I lost. I’m going to plant a native
tree in honor of each of them. Considering their individual
personalities, I intend to select a ‘matching’ tree and plant it
somewhere appropriate. An oak for Joan, a poplar for Mike, a
shad-blow for Al. Each a reminder of their exceptional lives and my
good fortune in getting to know them. I’m paying it forward.
Likewise,
as I mentioned a few weeks ago, for any future tool, device or gadget
I purchase, a native tree or plant will be planted. So I’m either
going to be a more careful shopper or I’m going to run out of place
to plant anything. Either way it is a win.
Happy New Year to each of you! Here’s to collectively making a positive difference.
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