Volunteerism

Volunteer basil
Originally uploaded by kc tripper.

I take comfort in the tenatiousness of flora, in plants that decide to make a go of it despite a lack of encouragement. This volunteer basil plant, for instance, practically grew from underneath our deck without much in the way of encouragement from this distracted gardner, waiting until the pushy cucumber vines had died back to make a break for some sunshine.

Seems a shame to turn it into pesto, but what better reward for tenacity than an ecstatic union with some good olive oil and garlic? A guy could do worse.