A TALE OF TWO GARDENS; TAKE YOUR PICK

THE ENGINEER'S GARDEN...

...WITH RAISED BEDS...

...AND TRELLISES

THE FARMER'S GARDEN..

...WITH LONG ROWS AND CASUAL GROWTH

THE GOLD STAR SERVICE FLAG: RESPECT AND HONER IT (Google photo)

Tuesday, 8:00 AM.  65 degrees F at the ferry dock, 66 on the back porch.  Wind variable and calm at present.  Sky cloudy and overcast with intermittent precipitation after an earlier deluge that left over an inch of rain; both rain barrels are full to overflowing.  It looks like a damp morning, at least.
   Life with a four months old puppy is pretty much like having a very active two year old child around; constant crying and into everything imaginable (don't leave a shoe on the floor, or a coffee cup on the table, or a magazine on the edge of a desk to be torn to tiny pieces).  Their only saving grace is that they are so much fun to have around (except for poor Buddy who gets his ears constantly pulled on and nipped).
   Bayfield is pretty much a summer vacation community, and consequently there aren't many real vegetable gardens, as usually a few tomato plants will suffice.  But there are two nice gardens I am familiar with that are a great contrast in style, if not in content.
   One is a raised garden, fenced, irrigated, young plants sheltered under plastic, with poles and and trellises,  that I refer to as an engineer's garden; the other is what I characterize as a farmer's garden, with long rows of vegetables and a row of raspberries, the tomatoes and squash vines wandering wherever they please.  Both produce well, with plenty of tomatoes and zucchini to give away in late summer.
   I am hard pressed to say which garden I prefer.  I like the preciseness and ingenuity of the engineer's garden, but also the informality of the farm garden. Both are a lot of work and very productive.  Take your pick.

OFF THE CUFF

   Both conventions and both candidates have been wrong to bring Gold Star parents into the political arena.  Anyone who has lost a loved one to war deserves respect and compassion, not notoriety or vilification.  I remember as a child during WWII seeing the flag with the gold star hanging in many a neighborhood window.
   Any forum provided by political parties is bound to be partisan and take advantage of the emotions of the moment.  Gold Star parents and others have every right to speak their piece, but it is wrong in my opinion to encourage them by giving them the stage.  

   The whole concept is unseemly and besmirches everyone involved.