New mercies...

Every year is different! Just when you think you’ve got gardening figured out, things change. Many of last year’s lessons are obsolete for this year’s conditions.

Sometimes you ‘trade in’ a certain pest that caused you grief all last year for a new pest that is wreaking a different kind of havoc this year.

You have put up fences that have kept the gophers out for two years, only to watch them teach their offspring to climb those fences in the third year. The fourth year, the gopher population has decreased and the deer glide over those little fences like they have wings.

Every year is a new year with new joys and new challenges.

The weeds you neglected last year because you were so busy hauling water, have grown into an abundant crop of new weeds just getting ready to go to seed again because they are getting all the rain they require to complete their life cycle early.

It’s all part of the game. It’s quite a bit like life I think.

You never really get it all figured out before you are done.

That is not the goal anyway. I remind myself to keep learning and trouble shooting. Don’t ever give up. There will always be challenges, but there will always be joys and successes too. His mercies are new every morning. Keep your eyes open and you will see them.

Nora