I am not, never have been, or I guess ever will be a gardener of any nature. Historically my wife would lovingly buy plants and spend time digging them into our borders, then a few weeks later, I would go and do some weeding and uproot all the fledgling plants. The extent of my horticultural ability is wandering around the garden somewhat begrudgingly shoving a lawn mower. I’m sure that you can imagine my delight last year when I heard about “No Mow May” and I seized the opportunity to take advantage.
I was on sabbatical during April May and June and before I knew what was happening, No Mow May, became no mow June, and then I was busy during July and my garden became increasingly overgrown. I made my best attempts with a strimmer, which wasn’t up to the job, and I made no headway whatsoever. I resorted to shears and after half an hour of getting nowhere, I gave up.
Regardless of the current agenda about climate change and all that happens around the subject of eco life, I have somehow inadvertently turned my garden over to becoming a wildlife haven. Alright, you are welcome to consider me a bone idle, and too tight fisted to pay somebody else to do what I can’t do. My neighbours who all have nice, manicured lawns and neat herbaceous borders, look with disgust on my garden, but something amazing has happened over the last year.
It turns out that God was a much better gardener than I ever was, my garden is filled with wildflowers, blue, white, red, purple, and yellow, all growing on an area that would have been mown over in the past. In addition to the flowers, I have noticed an increased number of bumble bees, we have snails and having been a place with very few birds, it appears that they love our garden, so despite the looks of distain, I feel reasonably justified.
Next week sees the beginning of no mow May 2024 and I won’t feel in the least bit guilty as I watch God take over the garden once again. I am reminded that we are here for a season and we are called to be good stewards of the world God has given us, and when we stand back a little we can see the world at its best.