Invited and Uninvited Guests

My massage lady, Donna,  whose hands are usually just the right degree of pressure were too vigorous yesterday afternoon, hence I am sitting with an ice  pack at 3 am grimacing with each movement. Perhaps I have spent too much time sitting---both painting and reading seem to consume me right now. Last night I finished The Invention of Wings, suggested by Jan Matsuoka. A great read, especially for a feminist.
My new garden is coming alive and thanks to readers Margaret in Sacramento and Alvey in Arlington, Wn, the identity of the mystery fungus in last week's blog is no longer a mystery. It is a morel, considered a delicacy. I'm not quite confident enough to add it to my scrambled eggs, however.
Most of the old roses that were here are now gone, but the one or two remaining are sporting aphids, like last year. Trying to be green as possible I once more invested in lady bugs. Last year's investment was a great success, but this year's offspring seem ambivalent. In fact, so many were already in lady bug heaven when I opened the containers that I coaxed the nursery to replace them. Just to welcome the newcomers I wrote the following:

ODE TO A LADYBUG

Ladybug, ladybug, tea is served

Not with lemon and sugar, methinks

Though to you the aphids devouring my roses

May taste like honey in the Garden of Eden.

I implore you to take seconds, even thirds

In fact I invite you to spend the summer.

For that matter, invite your spouse

And be blessed with hundreds of baby beetles

One day you will all be sated

And fly away to a neighbor’s repast

Meanwhile, I cherish your presence

And rejoice at your voracious appetite.

Ladybug, ladybug, I cherish thee

With your red cloak and beady eyes

And impressive appetite

You make my garden Technicolor.