Last week Destination: Books took a road trip to visit our Knoxville friend Maggie who is a resourceful and experienced gardener. She is also a generous one as she gifted me my first pound of red wigglers a half a dozen years ago. Their relatives still thrive in my garage worm bin.
Part of the visit included a tour of her garden.
A few years ago, Maggie lost access to her primary vegetable gardening space next door when the house sold to a new neighbor. Maggie’s own backyard was unsuitable for vegetables because of the heavy shade canopy. And then the conundrum began. Her husband Tim is passionate about mowing and takes pride in keeping an immaculate front lawn and did not want to forfeit any of the sunny space. It became like one of those land usage conflicts we see in those ol' Westerns between cattle and sheep ranchers, but without the firearms.
One summer when Tim was on an extended work trip, Maggie reworked the hilly embankment next to the street--and the conversion began. Since then, Maggie has made this area into a mixed-use space of flowers and vegetables that blend into one colorful harmonious space. Bees and butterflies flood the area among the coneflowers, black-eye Susans, iron weed, globe thistle, beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers, to name but a few.
And don’t worry, Tim still has plenty of lawn to mow.
Georgia Pollinator Census
Just a reminder The Georgia Pollinator Census is August 18 and 19, 2023. For details how you can participate, visit https://GSePC.org
And for books about butterflies and bees check out our online offerings at https://bookshop.org/lists/bees-butterflies-birds
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