By LYNNE IRONS

Since the media is still talking about the Icelandic volcano eruption, I have to add another thought on the subject! In 1816 after an eruption which caused one of those summers that didn’t happen, Mary Shelley and Lord Byron were vacationing. Because there were long, wet, gloomy days forcing the couple indoors, Mary wrote Frankenstein. Wonder if a similar creative effort happened with one of the many stranded air travelers in Europe?

By LYNNE IRONS

It’s been a busy week in the garden world. The weather has been completely in our favor. So much so, in fact, I believe we are a few weeks ahead of last year. The cool evenings have helped hold the forsythia in full bloom for weeks.

By LYNNE IRONS

Every task seems to come with its own set of problems. I ordered a sling bag of Vermont composted manure from SBS. It is a huge plastic burlap bag filled with two yards of weed-free compost. I use a small amount in my garden rows and in the bottom of seed trays. It is an enormous amount for a small garden but very in high quality.

By LYNNE IRONS

There is not much to be said for this retirement-age body. I garden for other people all week and then try to do my own over the weekend. I wonder when I started the pathetic, one-step-at-a-time coming down to my breakfast? I do remember the day I last jumped off the back of the truck. I admit I’m a bit of a poor sport about dragging reading glasses around to figure out plant labels and seed catalogs. I don’t envision a particularly bright future for any of these behaviors. The good news is I do seem to enjoy things more.

By LYNNE IRONS