So.

Lately I've been gardening.

A lot.

It's not like I have a large yard to landscape and shape into my own Giverny, but my little 25' by 10' patio does quite nicely thank you.

My bonsai sit neatly on the three tiered shelf that my Dad and I made over spring break. The cedar fences are trellised with Dutchman's Pipe, Clematis, and Passion vines.

A fig tree delicately scents the patio, gracing my largest planting bed.

A purple angels trumpet stands proudly in the other corner of the same bed. It's intoxicatingly scented blossoms held high announcing there silent herald.

The soil here is actually quite nice, a rich bayou bottom sandy loam.

It's nice, but completely entwined with tough, fibery, elm roots.

The elm is beautiful. It's a grand old tree actually. Easily reaching to the top of the three story roof.

My Autumn Clematis, and Japanese Maple appreciate the dappled shade it provides from the sun, but I don't appreciate the roots that invade my carefully tended soil. Robbing the nutrients from my compost enriched beds, and making it impossible to dig with anything other then a post hole digger.

So, lately I've been having herbicidal thoughts.

This is a dilemma for me, a organic gardener who does not indorse the use of such chemicals.

I keep thinking it would just be so simple to wear dark shades, hat, and heavy jacket to the nearest nursery, in the hopes of not being spotted by my fellow oraganic gardening enthusiasts. Procure the necessary chemicals. Then rush home, taking many detours and side trips in the event I was followed. Open the garden gate, spike the soil at the base of the tree with the potent herbicide, and then get rid of the packaging and evidence in a timely manner. I'd put away my disguise, water the garden, and the poison into the earth. I'd visualize the chemicals ebbing their way up through the tree. Reducing it to lumber in the shape of what was once a beautiful living thing. Thereby eventually ridding my garden of the pernicious roots. The beds would be rid of their entanglements, and I would be able to dig to my hearts content.

It won't happen.

I'm not going to do it.

But. . . I have thought about it.

I hope I never have to commit herbicide on such a grand scale. *grin*