Downtime

The second hand of the kitchen’s clock, the calendar attached to the back door, the monthly bank statements, anything for that matter that has periodicity has taken on new meaning the last few months. Except the months are not so few, they are lingering and passing by quickly at the same time.

Time has taken on different guises. There has been quiet time, dire time, fearful time, hopeful time, hopeless time, contemplative time, and time for screaming from the rooftops.

There is a lot of usually overlooked nature time in the backyard. Several robin families have nurtured their young in full view. The cardinals are busy with nest building. The ignored house finches have even garnered attention.

The fledglings, despite the species, clumsily begin life on the wing. They fly into fences, fall from perches, chase their parent’s relentlessly, and get lost in the bushes. They try to eat seed or attempt to pull worms out of the ground, and then alight on the birdbath only to slide into the water.

Unlike human babies, they get their chops together quickly and soon it is hard to distinguish them from their parents. This year there was a tragedy in the form of a parent robin found dead near the bath. Certain odors lead to the discovery. The backyard’s insect population was making quick work of the carcass.

Having downtime meant the garden was planted early, too early. The plants struggled to find a footing in the cold soil. But now that summer is one day old, the heat has lead to exponential growth. The cilantro made an appearance in a lively lemon sauce with egg fettuccine. Various lettuces are adding a spicy and silky addition to store bought salad.

One plant that almost did not make the transition from pot to soil is the San Marzano tomato. In a desperate attempt to save it, it was dug up, replanted in a clay pot with fresh soil, and placed under the grow light in the basement. Each morning a little sprit of water is applied and soon a new shoot appeared. The tricky part is to know when it is time to reintroduce it back into the wild.

Its fruit may not come this year for time is passing quickly and now the days are shortening. Granted heat will balance out the lessening rays, but if this winter and spring are an indication of time’s passage, the plants will need urging on, as will we.