You gardenlooks wonderful. And I long for a day (or days!) like the one you describe and I wish you many many more. Nothing rejuvenates the body, mind and spirit more than a good day in the garden.

As for climate change...well, as gardeners, we know that our gardens are always a work in progress, change will come, some for the good, some for the bad. All we can do is work with Nature and try our best to help her in whatever way we can. Planting a lot of trees is always a good idea!

If it is any consolation to you and others, I've been reading some recent atmospheric research and we ARE making progress in cleaning up the global atmosphere. The dreaded ozone hole is definitely shrinking, and the levels of air pollutants in the US and Europe are actually going DOWN. The problem is that the developing world (mostly China and India) have increased pollution levels because they are still developing their industries. HOWEVER and this is also hopeful: They can and are learning from our mistakes. it took Western business many decades to figure out how to be less polluting; these developing countries are catching on a lot faster.

There's a long way to go, but as in the old WWII posters "We Can Do It" (Rosie the Riveter!). and Gardeners are on the front lines in this war...

I'll be the first one to agree with you, Annie, in all that you mention. I think having grown up in the mountains -- those same mountains you and I share -- might have given us an inner sense of the need to walk hand in hand with Nature, to care deeply for those unseen things that Nature gives us; the air we breathe being one of them.

I also like to see things in a positive golden light, just as you do. Gardening is a never ending process and that's a good thing. It keeps us happily busy tending to the land; it gives us purpose. Where would we be if we ever thought our work on this earth was done?

Thank you, Annie.