We have a small garden in the back of our house with trees and vines. For a long time our friend Jo has been coming over with her dog and planting a variety of flowers around the borders. Since she moved away a year ago we have not been taking care of the garden. It is weedy and overgrown. But our cats love to play hide and seek among the tall grass, and every morning I wake up to vigorous bird chatter.
Our landlord is not so pleased with the state of the backyard and suggests we hire the guy who does yard work for him. The man comes on a soaking rainy day. He rakes and prunes and hauls and leaves the garden with a brutal crew cut. Our cats stay home a lot more since then, but the birds who have given me so much pleasure every morning, have moved away.
Dore is now a born-again gardener. He waters the yard regularly to revive the trees and plants. Perhaps by next spring the birds will find our garden fitting to be their home again.
