A Gardener’s Guide to Living with Nature

Herbicides, Pesticides, fungicides . . . Oh My!!

Certainly lions, tigers and bears are not a match for the destruction of the overused and mishandled use of chemicals.

A nature lover at heart I was instantly caught in the web of “A Blessing of Toads” by Sharon Lovejoy.   Learn something every day I say, and with Ms. Lovejoy's book my knowledge was expanded with each chapter.  Her sometimes amusing, but always insightful, interactions with nature encourage you to continue your quest to read and learn more.

 I confess, I do not know everything, and this book certainly proved it.  Did you know that spider webs shine to warn birds to fly around it?  And that wasps are considered the first paper makers?  Unless they are near a door or an area where you could disturb them, you should leave them alone.  They eat and kill garden “bad guys”.  Ok, maybe some good guys, too.   I thought they were here just here to sting you.  Moths, don’t they just eat clothes?  I had no idea they were our nightshift pollinators.  Caterpillars . . . well, I am not going to share everything that is in this wonderfully written book.  I encourage you to enjoy turning the pages and sharing nature through the eyes of the writer. You’ll find yourself saying, ”This sounds like something I would do . . . something I have experienced or something I really should try.”

Live with nature and do not use herbicides, pesticides or fungicides!