Behold the mighty Ash!

Now, elbow deep in harvest season, I take what remaining time of have of warm afternoons and daylight to lay on my small patch of lawn and behold the giant ash tree that borders mine and Nancy's property. The tree is easily over 120 feet, and it towers over just about every tree in the neighborhood. (Though Justin and Heather's oak trees are huge, they are down the hill from my house.) Quietly on the lawn, with Bootsy and Bronnie trying to capture my attention, I regard that tree and reflect on the petty bullshit that transpired during the day.

It had to happen eventually

Yup, I brought the elephant ear is today. Additionally, the sunflowers came down, the plume poppies, lotsa rudbeckia, the endless snow-on-the-mountain and corrydalis - both of which grow invasive in the garden. Should I turn the whole thing over next year? This question rolls and rolls around in my head. Especially when I'm yanking out fistfuls of grass.

I can't work a day in the garden without at least someone stopping by and asking about how to overwinter the ears. I don't know anymore than the next person, really. I had a little buddy come over and help me haul them outta the ground. First, we sawed off the large stalks and then coaxed them out with pitchforks. We were soaked - the stalks are almost completely water and fiber. I'm trying to dry them in the garage, though I will need something absorbent to spread on them so they won't rot. The garden is so incredibly bare. How in the world will I avoid homework now?