Winter’s deep snow did not leave much of a runoff for lawns and gardens this year.
The obviously dry ground this far into spring may be a harbinger of a long, dry summer.
Planting drought-resistant plants and native plants, watering judiciously and using mulch and compost rather than chemicals can sustain a garden through rough patches of weather.
We read years ago that Tom Paxton said he wrote “Whose Garden Was This?” on his way to Evanston to celebrate the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970.
Here are some of the lyrics:
“Whose garden was this?
It must have been lovely.
Did it have flowers?
“I’ve seen pictures of flowers,
And I’d love to have smelled one.
…
“Tell me again I need to know.
The forest had trees,
The meadows were green.
“The oceans were blue
And birds really flew.
Can you swear that it’s true?”
With continued effort, Mr. Paxton’s garden will be a dystopia, not a reality.