I have been planting flowers in my humble flower patches. As a human in the woods I try to be very responsible with what I plant so that it fits in well. There is a difference between native, non native and invasive plants and I try to keep up on all those details when choosing my pollinator/ eyeball candy.
Sometimes my critter neighbors take an interest in my garden that seems antithetical to my interest. Bunnies and Deer like to snack on them, Birds like to pick out the seeds, and Chipmunks and Squirrels like to dig them up looking for moisture or a place to hide their food stashes. The critter’s attention to my freshly planted plots can leave me feeling frustrated. Tho frustration certainly comes easy as a first reaction (I know I’m not the only one👀) I have learned that I truly dislike being frustrated or irritated. So when I feel my nerves burning hot I have taken up the practice of “blowing out the candle.” The phrase is a gentle reminder to blow out my so-easily-lit little flame of anger. Weirdly enough, the more I’ve practiced it the easier it comes.
My Red Squirrel neighbors often sound frustrated. Their fast chittering and loud huffing reminds me of my brain when it’s irritated. Their sweet softness also reminds me of my brain. Honestly, the sweet dichotomy of the fluffy Red Squirrel seems a pretty good allegory for my personal inner workings.
My Squirrel neighbors also like to garden. After they dig up a spot I watch new plantlife sprout up. Even when the place they dig up is something I have planted it seems the little seeds they stir around make perfect pollinator patches. This realization has really helped alleviate my frustration. I like to think of the Squirrel’s plots as bouquet offerings they wish to share with the world. They are bouquets that just keep on giving and I am the observer who gets to watch as native pollinators flock. It is easy to “blow out the candle” while staring into the exquisite whorls of a wild Aster flower🌼
