Be Natural

  Sometimes folks have a tendency to "over do" on things.  I am more one that lets things be.  I figure I can work myself up into a fine lather over things or relax and accept things as they are.  This holds true especially in my gardens and the surrounding property.  It makes me sad to see perfectly nice looking bushes whacked and hacked into uniform shapes.  Straight, buzz-cut hedges make me cringe.  Don't get me wrong, I am all for a trim here and there but this bit of trying to make Mother Nature conform to some rigid rules is slap nuts.  Let things be natural.  Let shrubs have freedom to be the bushes they were meant to be, let wildflowers flourish with the beauty they should be showing and stop being so nit-picky about nature.  Let it be natural.  Shrubs shaped like boxes are just downright weird!  Yards and gardens without a few surprises is about as stark as a wasteland.  Mother Nature has a bit of quirkiness that is beautiful in its own right and anything else is a bit too strict.

  A friend recently asked me how to remove lichens and mosses from their trees.  What????  Why would you even consider that?  Lichens and mosses are amazing creations and to think you have to rid the garden of them is ridiculous!  Neither do any harm to their host trees and both add a bit of interest.  Plus, trying to remove these growths will probably do more damage to the host trees than the lichens and mosses could ever do.  Keep in mind, I am referring to mosses and lichens and not fungi.  Some fungi can cause disease and should be tended but leave the other two alone.  

  This whole deal about mosses and lichens made me really sit down and look at a patch of moss growing on the base of an old oak tree.  Am I misguided in my idea that the moss added a bit of charm to the tree?  Does it appear unkempt or trashy?  Is there a reason to be "over-clean" and rid the place of anything that grows so naturally?  Nope.  All I could see was a pretty green, velvety soft bit of Southern charm on the old oak tree.  I ain't moving it one bit!....and you shouldn't either.  Lighten up and let things be. Stop being so compulsive about things around you and sit back to enjoy things as they are.  Life is so much better that way.