icon caret-left icon caret-right instagram pinterest linkedin facebook x goodreads bluesky threads tiktok question-circle facebook circle twitter circle linkedin circle instagram circle goodreads circle pinterest circle

JoAnn's Blog

Gardening in Times of Trouble

periwinkle, AKA vinca vine

 

Periwinkle can't be beat.

Cover it with a plastic sheet.

Dig it, hoe it, give it a whack.

Periwinkle just comes back.

 

In flower garden, lawn, or field,

periwinkle will not yield.

Don't let its cute blue blooms deceive you.

Vinca vine will never leave you.

 

Before I knew how invasive the plant is, I planted periwinkle as a ground cover to help stabilize our very steep front hill, which we filled with flowering plants years ago so we didn't have to mow. Periwinkle's cheery blue flowers do not begin to make up for the choking vines that I'm trying to remove now. I grab handfuls and yank, thinking in rhyme as I work--a plus.

 

Now I have gaps to fill. To find a native ground cover, I searched the Native Plant Resource Directory at Homegrown National Park. I want a low-growing plant along the bottom of the hill, and the only one I found for our zone was wild strawberry. Birds eat the berries, which I count as another plus. Local garden centers I called didn't carry wild strawberry, so I found seeds at Prairie Moon Nursery and started the stratifying process as soon as I received them. I ordered plants from Prairie Nursery, but they won't be shipped until early June.

 

In the meantime, I'm yanking out periwinkle, planting more flowers and vegetables, and attending every protest I can, including yesterday's rally for Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan. I find comfort in solidarity.

 

This week's Poetry Friday Roundup is at Pleasures from the Page. Enjoy!

 

7 Comments
Post a comment

What Then Must We Do?

the first rose-breasted grosbeak we've seen this year, from our kitchen window

 

Weary migrants need

food, shelter, compassion. How

can we stay quiet?

 

Spring brings migrating birds through our neighborhood. We delight in the sights and sounds, welcome them, feed them seeds and oranges.

 

At the same time, the Catholic Church has chosen a new pope who reminds the world to open our arms to "all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love."

 

At the same time, our government spends our tax dollars on gold office decorations, golf outings, and a lavish parade while turning away people seeking refuge and looking for ways to further enrich the ultra-wealthy by depriving the rest of us of basic services.

 

I cannot reconcile these images. All I can do is try to make a difference in my little corner of the world. And keep speaking up.

 

Sarah Grace Tuttle hosts today's Poetry Friday Roundup. Enjoy!

 

11 Comments
Post a comment

Raising Our Voices Together

 

Solidarity
gathers, marches, chants, and sings.
We shall not be moved.

 

Here in Wisconsin, politics did not quiet down after the state Supreme Court election. I grew up in Milwaukee, not far from where I took this photo at last week's rally and march in support of Judge Hannah Dugan. Yesterday, we joined the glorious annual May Day March: A Day Without Immigrants and Workers, a powerful and moving event in spite of the rain.

 

In trying times, I find comfort in gathering with like-minded people. Poetry Friday is another good example. Although National Poetry Month has ended, I hope to keep participating. Mary Lee Hahn has today's Roundup at A(nother) Year of Reading. Enjoy!

 

4 Comments
Post a comment