Rosemary and Iris

The challenging garden project is the removal of the the rosemary giant. This plant started as a $1.99 sprig in a 2" x 2" plastic pot from the grocery store. After 10 years of sun and water, it has crept to a diameter of 12', yes, 12 FEET! It has the potential to harbor rattle snakes, desert rats, bobcats, etc. so it has to go. First thing in the morning, Ruby and I fill a trash can with cuttings chopped down to manageable size. Four of these bags fill the weekly pick-up can. So I can only do so much a week. Today we found a pack rat's nest. It looked like what Mr. Mole made for Thumbilina. There was a soft downy bed woven from silky grasses and feather down. Also, the pantry was stocked with cactus red fruit and pomgranates. There were all kinds of bits and pieces of wood, stryrene, and little rocks. The most intriquing little treaseure was the the stuffed squeaky toy from Buster's headstone. When Buster was laid to rest, his favorite toy was draped on the stone. It stayed there for many months and suddenly vanished. I thought a bird carried it off to a nest? The behemoth herb is about 60% downed. Still a ways to go.

When asked about a favorite flower? The iris. When this flower comes in from the garden to the sewing room, it cuddles up to applique like a cat to cream. Three shapes up and three down, fringed or not, twisted, twirled, ruffled, with gold fringe tongues from cut satin stitches. The color range embraces all the scraps. The leaves are like javalin points, sometimes bent and beckoning. Even the hairy, hoary roots have curled and twirled ropy promise. And that’s my favorite petal all the way down to the last trailing threads…