Greetings, dear readers.

Now that summer has taken over the weather, we’ve had another kind of take over on the deck behind the house. As it does every year, bindweed has erupted up from underneath the slats and across the decking. It is a vigorous vine, fast growing, abundantly green, and – as I will ruefully admit – beautiful in bloom.

Bindweed is also called morning glory for a reason.When the blooms are in their prime, they open every morning and close gradually during the day.

If I go out early enough, this is what I see:

And in the evening, they close into fluted trumpets, curled at the ends, like babies’ fists.

Perhaps it is part of their evolutionary strategy that somewhat noxious weeds are far too pretty to remove without regret. The human puts up with having to step over vines to step out the door because destroying beauty to avoid a small inconvenience is beyond what is bearable to do.

A longer stride is a small price to pay for a little extra beauty in the world.

Readers, I wish you that extra bit that keeps you going. I hope you are keeping safe and well and I am grateful you are here.