“Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms, you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.” – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I like to mow the lawn, enjoy the exercise, and appreciate that my mower mulches as raking is not high on my list of things to do. I was given a book titled Nature’s Year, which provides a month-by-month snapshot of flora and fauna in my area. October is when we lose 90 minutes of our daily sunshine. Mother Nature amazes me; the seeds produced are all outfitted with survival tools. Dropping too close to the parent means a lack of sun and an increased chance of death, so each has a mechanism to ensure it can travel. Some seeds have little hooks to attach to more mobile life, while others have wings to ensure they are caught in the wind and deposited in a sunny, safe spot.

I had hired a lawn care company until a few months ago in my never-ending fight to tame dandelions and creeping charlie. I finally threw in my rake and decided that Mother Nature knows best and that maybe these annoyances are crucial to the overall ecosystem. And why do they annoy me to start with? Somewhere, I have learned that a weed-free yard is a more beautiful yard. What a funny state of mind to have. I can’t say I will not continue to pull the dandies, as I am not quite past my dislike for their post-flower look. For now, I will consider this an ongoing spiritual work in progress.

My gardens are shown great love in the early spring, followed by many months of neglect. I  incorporated mulch to combat the worst of the weed situations and have an ongoing love-hate relationship with my rock garden, which becomes a forest if left entirely unattended.

This all brings me to what I would love one day. A small house on a small piece of land with lots of rock, trees, and wildflowers. No mowing or weeding, just an appreciation for how nature manages quite nicely when I am kept out of its care. A fence to keep my dog in but to allow birds, squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, and even skunks to roam. My management will ensure the dog is not impacted by the animals instead of ensuring the animals are not impacting my dog—a little piece of heaven for breathing deeply, watching patiently, and admiring thoroughly.

It seems that such a location will nicely suit my body’s need for fresh air and activity. In retirement, I will try to let nature be as it is and adjust my beliefs about what it should be.