The splendid and the vile

The Splendid and the Vile is the title of Erik Larson's new book about Churchill and the London Blitz. It also seemed to be an apt description of what I saw when I took a stroll through my garden yesterday, just before it began to rain. First the splendid:

This is the moss on the ground next to the lichen-covered stepping stone path. 

A rock whose mica chips have disappeared over the years as lichens and mosses have made a home there.

. . .  and now the very vile! Our Picea omorika 'Bruns pendula' with its beautiful weeping branches in an early snowfall last October. Note those broad branches spreading right down to the ground. 

All gone. Something, most likely rabbits, ate the bottom 1/4 to 1/3 of the branches. This tree is 5 and 1/2 years old and has never been touched by critters or disease of any kind. 

I realize it is ridiculous and selfish to complain about my garden not looking perfect when the world is in crisis. But it is easier to think about problems in the garden than what might happen later today or tomorrow; given the fact that the news keeps getting worse. 

It's cold, gray and windy here but snowdrops are coming up as is the first Hepatica.

It was a pleasant change to come indoors and wash my hands — only because I had garden dirt under my nails. 

Stay safe and keep washing those hands!

Comments

[Kristin]

Oh no! That's sad. Have you read Larson's new book? I read Dead Wake last month, but wasn't sure I wanted to read about Churchill.

[Kris P]

The lichen and moss-covered stone is living art. Sorry to hear about the critter damage - I wonder why they chose to go after the tree now after previously leaving it alone? Your comment about hand washing made me laugh, perhaps for the first time in the past 2 days.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

It is an exciting time in the garden despite the pandemic. I am almost appreciating things in the garden even more than usual this year.
Your moss and lichen is gorgeous. Maybe I move around my stones too much to get the moss to grow on them. As they say moss won't grow on a rolling stone. tee hee.
Those dang rabbits. They ate the bottom of a blue spruce, one of those specially grown to not be too big, in my garden. I left the limbs there hoping that they would at least grow their needles back but they didn't I hate to say.

[Beth @ PlantPostings]

Stay healthy, Linda. I can totally relate to this post. The end-of-winter garden disappointments are tough in any time, but especially difficult when heaped on top of worries about family and friends during these especially difficult times. Our gardens are great therapy, though. :)

[Barbara H.]

That's a sad situation! So difficult when we come unsuspectingly upon damage like that. I hope the tree itself survives the nibbling and you eventually find some silver lining in that sad situation. Hurrah for dirt under the nails and a different reason for hand washing.

[jenny]

For many of us the awakening garden is what is keeping us going. So sorry about your eaten branches. Maybe they will eventually be covered by new growth. Isn't there always something to fret over in a garden.

[Loree / danger garden]

Your mossy shots are beautiful, and while being able to complain about garden goings on could be considered a luxury right now it doesn't diminish the pain of seeing a treasured plant damaged.