Labor Day, 2016!

Early September brings cooler weather, the new school year, and a three day celebration of everyday people like you and me - hard working folks who keep this country and this economy going and growing. Labor Day.

So, in honor of this special occasion, I would like to thank the many new volunteers from my neighborhood who've stepped up to help me keep the native plant gardens weeded, watered, and well-maintained. Two weeks ago I posted an invitation on several neighborhood Facebook pages asking for interested individuals and/or organizations to lend a hand with these small, local gardens. Within a few minutes several people stepped forward!

What is exciting is these individuals have young children, and they've already involved their entire families in this endeavor! The young ones love watching the butterflies flit about, and pulling weeds. The adults enjoy sharing this experience with their children and giving back to the neighborhood.

The gardens are small, quite mature, and do not require very much maintenance at all. Just occasional weeding, sometimes a bit of watering, and cutting plants back at the appropriate time. My main goal was to get the community involved in this project, and by so doing ensure the longevity of these gardens. What I've seen happen all too often is one person or a few people take a lot of time and effort to lovingly bring forth a garden from nothing - and when that person or persons leaves -- the garden generally gets mowed down and non-native grasses planted in its place.

I truly do not wish that to happen. With the involvement of community members, it is my wish these gardens continue long after I am gone!

Another labor of love I wish to celebrate is Mother Earth herself! She is a hard-working woman! The trees and plants provide us with oxygen and food. Insects pollinate, deliver seeds, and provide food for predators. Birds grace us with music, eat bugs, and fill the sky with their beauty. Fish feed us and swim gracefully in small ponds and huge oceans. Mammals, amphibians, rocks, water, air, fire... Everything works together, and we benefit from her labor. Thank you, Mother Earth!