ARG! Mosquitos & Lethargy.

I guess gardening has been so all consuming that I thought because I haven't been really absorbed in it the last few days that I must be over my gardening habit. I actually haven't felt like being outside at all the last few days and have been sleepy and tired. I thought it was the mosquitoes or finally being tired of gardening, but I started sneezing today, add in the lethargy, feeling down, sore throat, runny nose and headache, and it turns out I'm actually sick, not tired about gardening.

I was out trying to get some more done on our drainage trench on Tuesday but the mosquitoes with all rain we have been getting are out of control. In the hour I was outside the other day, I got 20 bites on my arms most of them up and down my left arm and that was with me killing mosquitoes left and right. I didn't bother counting the ones that somehow got through my jeans and clothes. I was getting bit before but not more than 5 to 10 bites on mostly exposed areas. I've seen bigger mosquitoes, but have never been bit like this before. The "man" doesn't seem to get bit at all. I guess I am just super tasty. I think I let it get me discourage, but now I realize that the tired and down feeling must be a result of my immune system hard at work fighting off germs. 

Some extra sleep today and lots of sick type food stuffs and herb tea and suddenly I'm sad I can't be outside gardening and am feeling more positive again, but I'm also in a quandary. I have a lot of half finished projects that just require time and natural materials like leaves. I was able to get some leaves from one of my neighbors on Saturday. He was somewhat bemused I think when I came over and asked if I could have his leaves for my compost pile. I got three 32 gallon trash cans full and they were not even all that noticeable once I stuck them in my piles that I'm hoping to plant on top of one of these days mound garden style.

I hate waiting, but nature can not be rushed. I'm also contemplating what I want for my garden. I've now planted some perennial ornamentals (mostly Texas natives) and though I really like them I'm contemplating if I really want to fill the rest of the back yard besides the future high density orchard with them or if I want to make a go of a forest garden (edible type landscaping) for along the fence and my other open areas. I started contemplating this when I realized I was no longer interested in planting a pride of barbadoes in the backyard when it was on my list of must-haves because I thought it was so pretty, but now I'm thinking it really doesn't fit what I have already nor where I think I am heading.

I'm really fascinated by the idea of edible landscaping and the almost counter-culture nature of it. I was watching some permaculture and forest gardening videos on youtube at some point and one of them pointed out how food gardening is not only good for one, but also a way of protesting our current national food policies. I'm definitely not a fan of frankenfood, genetically modified food, or large food conglomerates that care more about their bottom line.

Mostly though I am interested in forest gardening since it mimics the forest and is self-sustaining, but uses edibles. Less work and food to boot, though maybe more work in the beginning (not such a bad thing since I am highly motivated right now or will be after I totally beat whatever I've caught and may not be later). 

I remember there was a time I didn't understand why anyone would want to plant a flower garden when they could plant a food garden, but I wasn't willing to put in the work for either. Then I started really enjoying flowers. I also started painting flowers. I enjoyed their beauty and the worth of being surrounded by beautiful things. 

Now I'm thinking long-term sustainability and how my garden can also be not only self-sustaining, attractive to butterflies and birds and other wildlife, but also how it can sustain my family long-term and not just with exposure to nature and beauty, but with actually feeding us too through-out the years. I really enjoy harvesting food that I have grown so much so that I'm back to wanting to add a few more raised beds to grow even more vegetables. I'm also rethinking my diagram of ornamental perennials that I was planning to put along the back fence and wondering how I can plant edible landscaping which can cover wildlife habit and human food.

I think I am starting to feel better since the ideas and plans and gardening excitement are peaking through the lethargy again...