Garden Bear

 

June 29, 2024

Because of heat predicted for today being worse even than preceding days, did my gardening early, getting day lilies and a hibiscus into the ground and copiously watered before 10:30. As I turned from packing a root with dirt, I caught an enormous bear making his stealthy, comic way through the backyard, like a cartoon character trying to sneak away on tippy-toe. He must have watched from under the lilacs, waiting for me to turn my back. That woke me right up. I wondered how many formidable entities have passed while my back was turned. I tried to imagine the bear’s thoughts: “Oh, God, what can I do not to stir the garden-ape up?”