Disparaging and Marveling on Earth Day

Earth Day 2014 was, at least in Eastern Iowa, as lovely a one as could have been ordered up—if one could order weather. According to news reports, people don't “observe” the Day much anymore. Understandably, we'd rather not see what we've done to Earth.

I celebrated it disparaging the crab grass and marveling at the daffodils & willows. Like everyone, I have a hard time overriding my aching back to marvel at crab grass, but I know those vigorous roots long as your arm have kept the American Plains from blowing away. Willows have about as bad a rep for being “dirty.” But for me they also withstand the floods that are the natural offshoot of too many human-installed hard surfaces, and a row of them have created a curtain that keeps the sprays out of my yard. A gorgeous yellow-green this Earth Day 2014.

Of course, nobody can disparage a daffodil bobbing on the breeze, but a critical eye tries to appreciate the things that are less easy to control. Tho' it's not always easy!