NATURE NOTES!-N.E

Every morning for the past few months, to find relaxation in my already relatively stress-free COVID-19 life, I go to my beautiful garden. I go out about at 10 AM to water my plants. Usually, it's sunny, but today the rain did the job for me! I find my garden a quiet place, where I can reflect on my actions, listen to music, read, and paint peacefully. But that's not everything. My garden is also a fascinating ecosystem!  

Usually, the green grass, leaves, and long brown vines come to mind when I think of my garden. The considerable rose tree (I'm not sure it's a rose but I hope it is) also comes with that. Magenta, long honeysuckle vines cover one side of my antique white fence, and the other hand flares out with a vibrant bright green passionfruit vine. Hidden between a beautiful jasmine plant is a small spruce green olive tree (an essential symbol in Mediterranean cultures!). Next, to is a diluted green non-ripe Geranium vine just waiting to spur growth. In this section of the garden, I smell the sweet and sugary smell of the honeysuckle overpower me. I reach out and touch the plants, and feel the smooth, waxy leaves of the olive and jasmine, the rough leaves of the Geranium, and uneven vines of the honeysuckle and passionfruit.  
Next to the gate, I see a beautiful Fig tree, naked, with only a few green leaves to cover its newly growing bark. I take a deep breath here and smell the chlorophyll and carrying scents of the neighbour's fragrant meals. I feel the figs naturally scratchy three-pointed leaves and pat them goodbye (respectfully!). I am sure to find a few dandelions on the grass field, but maybe closer to the rain-water collection system. 
 I go over to the top left corner of the garden, near a hidden edge, and feel the freshly wet grass on my black sandals. On the rose tree and the concrete, I see a substantial brown ant colony, marching to pick up their daily meal of decomposing leftovers of swept over food. I smell the sweet scent of the roses but try to ignore the smell of the decomposing flowers at the bottom of the tree. I reach out and touch the fragile flowers and find an ant crawling on my hand! Possibly, I may see a yellow and black wasp or a bee feeding on the yellow nectar of the tiger-like pink and white rose flower, but I am sure to find them in the Back garden. 
 I Follow the narrow concrete path to the back, wave a friendly hello to my next-door neighbours, and I find it! Next to the slightly oxidized green metal chairs on the green grass field, I see an extensive branching Kale plant in a large wooden planter, with the tasty purple kale leaves at the bottom. At the top of the plant, bees seem to enjoy the plant's yellow flower nectar! Planted next to them, are a few shiny green herb plants. There you can find fragrant oregano, sage, dill, and lavender. I Pick up the rough and coarse oregano leaf and scrunch between my fingers to get the peppery smell of an Italian dinner. As for the "furry" and malleable lavender and sage, I pick up their leaves and scrunch them, and smell the perfume and tea-like qualities of the plants. For the dill, I feel the inviting bitter smell that makes you want to eat a pickle!  The entire planter smells like a European kitchen cabinet, except for the Kales overpowering spicy and chlorophyll-like smell of its sharp leaves. 
 Now that I'm done exploring the plants, I sit down on the smooth metal chair, under the pleasant parasol. I see the determined red robin and crow set their feet on the fence, waiting to catch the same worm on the concrete. Another bee passes above, while a tiny black fly attempts to pick a place inside my composting bin and to lay eggs in it. I close my eyes, and hear the birds sing all together; it almost sounds like a sort of laugh! "Tee Hee-Hee! Tee Hee-Hee!" The buzzing of the bugs, and the sound of the crows trying to catch a small meal. "Caw! Caw!". I suddenly hear the scratching of the fence. What is that? Oh, it's a little, lost grey squirrel! He's now off to catch a tasty acorn. 
 I'm now very relaxed, and I feel the gentle, dry breeze on my bare hands. "COME UP FOR BREAKFAST!" My mom shouts from the bedroom window. Guess it's time to go in then! I finally say goodbye to my beautiful green garden, and to all the animals that help to keep it alive. I go up the ledge and lock the door. I'll see you again tomorrow!