What a Spectacle!

Spectacle Pod Near the Temple of the Toad

One of the many wildflowers (some would call them “weeds”) that Jim and I let go in our yard is the spectacle pod.  Named for its seed pods, which look somewhat like a pale green set of opera glasses, these roughly foot high plants grow with very little encouragement and no need to be watered.  They start flowering about this time of year with blossoms lasting for about a month.  Then they produce seeds that the birds enjoy.  Finally, they wither into something ragged and brown that we pull.

After we pull the spectacle pod plants, we often put the dead plants in an out of the way corner of the yard, so the birds can continue foraging for a while more.  The seeds can be eaten by humans as well.  I’ve tried them.  They’re somewhat spicy but, not (to my tastebuds at least) particularly yummy.  I guess they’re best “for the birds.”

Slowly but surely, our yard is acknowledging that maybe, just maybe, we’re done with winter.  Jim and I have been going out at night to see the toads in our tiny pond.  The record thus far is six.

When I’m not enjoying my yard, I’ve been writing away on SK5.  Like the garden, the novel doesn’t seem to be growing very fast.  However, when I compare what I have done by the end of the week to where I started, I can see the changes.

Honestly, being a gardener, especially one who frequently grows plants from seed, and being a novelist have a lot in common, don’t they?