Procrastinating storms are typical here. Sunday was supposed to let loose on our dry landscape. When only a short mist appeared, hopes were raised about the Wednesday forecast of rain starting at 5 am. That has been delayed for several hours, but the payday already signaled its arrival yesterday. I could smell the first hints of a major storm, and the wind kicked up, cold rather than cool. A major storm always pushes a front of colder air before it, as if to warn all creatures to get fed and get warm.
Roses are still blooming because our water prices are especially low. We have many stunted plants (Bee Balm, Joe Pye) clipped low but putting out new leaves. That reminded me of the Carbon Cowboys' dictum - "Let plant roots grow as long as possible."
The argument is simple - roots cause 75% of the fertility of the soil. If we give credit to the Creating Word - the Son of God - and His superb engineering skills, the reasons are clear. Growing plants have thousands of miles of roots and root hairs to feed the diversity of plants.
Some plants are bought from a nursery. Others begin as seed in the garden. Still others seem to make a surprise appearance; bird bombing provides a clue. Yesterday Comfrey made an appearance far from the original plant. Yarrow has various locations after one summer of blooms and seeds.
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| Armillaria mushrooms feed from wood sources. We have clusters of them. Ranger Bob thought Dog Vomit mushrooms were the real thing and blamed Sassy for a moment. |
Every plant has its own system connecting to others via fungus strands. They provide water and nutrition for the plants while the plants provide carbon for fungus growth. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of particular fungi, such as "dog vomit" which appears on top of wood mulch.
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| Dog Vomit fungus appears on wood mulch. |
I used to think of plant nutrition as something we add to the lawn and garden, but Teaming with Microbes taught me that the ideal - the Divine Plan - is holding water and nutrition in the top 12 inches of soil. Every living creature and cell performs its assigned task and dies to feed and water the next creature and cell. Moving creatures aerate the soil and loosen it for more growth. Bacteria in earthworms need to be bussed to new locations, and bacteria in earthworms reduce the raw materials (dead leaves, etc) into worm manure (politely called castings) that gently feed roots, hold moisture, and add usable calcium to the garden.
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| Teaming with Microbes is essential for gardening. |
KJV John 1:3 All things were made by Him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Rationalism is king in science and modern Biblical studies, but that philosophy is devoid when it comes to purpose. Random events, even over billions of years, cannot exhibit purpose. The soil scientists did not even know or appreciate the work of fungi until recently.
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| By Norma A. Boeckler |
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| Growing up on a farm - more people need that kind of education. |
