The Important Job

  As usual, the gardens look most bare during the winter months.  Even though we have had an extremely warm winter so far, the plants had no idea that it was to be like this back in October.  Like plants have a tendency to do, they made seed pods and then set in for the "cold" winter months.  A lot of the less cold hardy plants died back to the ground and will regrow from rootstock or bulbs. The only plants that look to be thriving are the greens planted in the garden boxes.  Collards, cabbages, carrots, broccoli and brussels sprouts do well this time of the year.  Other plants would rather not expend the energy trying to flourish so they bed down for the winter.

  On the hike this morning, an empty seed pod caught my eye.  I admit that the paper-thin pods intrigue me. Inside these seemingly fragile cases, life is held anew for the plants.  The seeds mature and then are released to start the cycle all again.  That thin-walled case is all that holds the future of the plants.  

  The pod, today, was from a downed wild Madonna lily.  I assume that at one point it was hit by my lawn mower and spewed seeds all over the lawn.  Come spring, a bazillion seeds will sprout and, out of those, a few will manage to grow to maturity.  Those lucky few are the ones that landed inside the gardens' edges.  The plants will grow, bulbs mature and flowers bloom.  The lilies that blew into the gardens by pure chance will be allowed to grow and bloom where they may.  Life goes on all because of this amazing pod.  What an important job it has!