The Civilized Man

Tag: garden

  • The Weary Heirloom

    It is Summer 2025 and the weather has given two distinct seasons through June and July. The first was very hot and dry with temperatures consistently near 90. Next, came the deluge of rain. It feels like a tropical forest during the last several weeks. The weather is so moist, humid, warm and dense that I have found white fungus patches growing in the soil near several plants. A deluge of rain.

    “Apres moi, le deluge.” The King’s famous statement was not made in reference to the weather, but every time I think of the word “deluge” that phrase comes to mind. While Louis XV made his remorseless statement about the destructive effect that the powerful will leave behind after their departure, in our case, the deluge was exactly what we needed!

    “After the flood, the tomatoes!”

    My main concern was that my favorite heirloom tomato plants were barren of fruits until July 21st. I have not seen this in many years and felt a little unhappy each morning as I examined the weary plants. Heirlooms are not hybrid plants, and therefore are not artificially disease resistant, and certainly not heat resistant. They refused any pollination until the temperature mercifully dropped for a few days, and 7 days later they had many little tomatoes. If the temperature is too hot, they get tired and rather listless.

    The one who dislikes intense heat, may catch a disease or two, or become bored or weary. Yet, somewhere within this being lies a feeling of purpose in the present, the desire to survive and possibly even flourish.

    These conditions seem familiar, don’t they? The real world tells the truth if we can see it and learn from it.

    Still, next year I will plant less of this variety of tomato as I have learned that our local climate seems wrong for it. It may thrive in a milder or more suitable climate. Sometimes we are forced to change. Knowing when to change is a valuable skill to have. However, it can be a rather painful one to learn.

    Well, as the tomato branches slept the melon vines crept, and what entertaining plants they are! If I sat in the middle of the this dense chaos for one night, I would expect to be held captive by these Vines Of Charentais, dragged through the Field of Lillies, into the Dark Wood. I don’t know what would happen then, but I do think about it.

    The Vines of Charentais melons, threatening to cover everything in sight!

    As of today, these lovely vines are a perfectly harmless variety of honeydew melon cultivated in France. These started from seeds in early May and they, unlike some of their neghbor plants, seem to enjoy our climate this summer.

    These seeds came from Botanical Interests seed company, and they have many interesting plants you will never find at a garden center.

    “Heirloom” seeds are handed off from one generation of gardeners to another. I think “heirloom” may not be an accurate adjective, but it is accepted. There is a much greater effort than trading and selling seed packets. “Heirloom” seed companies are agricultural entities. There are associations across the USA such as organic farming and sustainable agriculture groups that have a great interest in cultivating and spreading the use of organic seeds. The organic farming and food movements are growing every year, all over the world and what a very good thing that is.

    The real heirlooms, the past.

    There are other types of heirlooms, the various objects that have been present in our lives for decades. In that sense, this is certainly an heirloom, but it is more than that. This girl’s image has been known to people for over 4 centuries. (Rembrandt, or his studio, 1645).

    This Rembrandt print, in its ornate antique wooden frame, has been watching me for as long as I can remember. I think I have lived with it for my entire life. I am not sure really when it appeared. It was in my parent’s house, found its place later into my first house, and has been watching my living room in the present place for the last 21 years.

    Unlike a family heirloom it doesn’t remind me of my past. It is a view of the ancient past but its effect is in the present. That could be said of all great art, I suppose. But stranger yet, it will outlive me and look over someone else one day.

    Here is to the present and last night’s home-made pesto, a real Chardonnay and waning bird songs in the evening.

    The Gardens of August 2025

    One day, I will take a good photograph of a hummingbird. It is very difficult to do, but now it is a daily activity to wait for these incredible little creatures. I sit with my Canon 250mm lens in hand, and relax in the sun waiting for their rare appearences.

  • The Endless Retirement

    I like my property here, but I sometimes feel that I would like to have much more of it. Although, I couldn’t maintain much more. Maybe I would rather just live in a place where there is more forest. I’ve read about people building “tiny” houses on rural land and I like the idea very much. But the photos I’ve seen of “tiny houses” don’t look very good to me. They seem much too compact.

    In addition, I have noticed that some of the new Garden Sheds have quite nice designs.

    If I had to, I could sell my house, buy several of these and some rural land, and build Garden Shed Estates. It would need a foundation, though.

    Yet, at this time in my life, I still have no shed.

    It is June, the trees are in full bloom, and the birdies are singing!

    The gardens (plural!) have survived the cold evenings and look pretty healthy thus far. Although a few of the plant population are unhappy and not feeling well. I am hoping that the chicken manure application will make them feel better.

    Ah, there is the potato I buried several months back.

    I like my current place to live better than all my previous dwellings. It has been very comfortable and peaceful here the last 20 years. There are occasional interesting visitors but not many or very often. I’ll bet the neighbors didn’t know this individual was near the front door! And then he just seemed to vanish.

    These days my time is spent well. Sometimes I just sit and think about life and all that I have learned thus far, and what comes next. Or, I can read the great books. I have been reading and re-reading some Bertrand Russell essays. He is one of my favorite writers of the 20th century. I recently found a classic book in near mint condition, printed 1957 (2nd printing, original released in 1956). Purchased on-line from the AbeBooks website. Cheaply made re-print paperbacks are selling for the same price. What a scandal.

    Good Queen Bess approves of this mint condition treasure.

    There is guitar (for me) and music as a lifelong passion. But that is always yours, once you acquire it. It is the musical memory that evokes pleasing chords or melodies. But I don’t think that is inspiration

    I can still learn by example, but it would have to be something exceptional.

    What could that be? Who do I currently admire enough such that they also could be an inspiration?

    Well, here is the great Sir Henry of Fox Manor who demonstrates the necessary enthusiasm to pursue a meaningful life.

    The Legend, himself.

    The wise use of leisure, it must be conceded, is a product of civilization and education. A man who has worked long hours all his life will be bored if he becomes suddenly idle. But without a considerable amount of leisure a man is cut off from many of the best things. There is no longer any reason why the bulk of the population should suffer this deprivation; only a foolish asceticism, usually vicarious, makes us insist on work in excessive quantities now that the need no longer exists.

    In Praise Of Idleness, 1932 Harper’s Magazine. Bertrand Russell.


    IX. Can anything be sillier than the point of view of certain people—I mean those who boast of their foresight? They keep themselves very busily engaged in order that they may be able to live better; they spend life in making ready to live! They form their purposes with a view to the distant future; yet postponement is the greatest waste of life; it deprives them of each day as it comes, it snatches from them the present by promising something hereafter. The greatest hindrance to living is expectancy, which depends upon the morrow and wastes to-day.

    De Brevitate Vitae, Seneca. (middle first century AD)