Garden Math
1
You have three seedlings and one
funny story after the bluejays stole
the sunflower seeds from the bed you put them in.
How many weeks did it take
you to find them growing after
you to find them growing after
you caught the birds busting a few seeds
against the garden bed wall?
2
How many pinwheels are needed
to keep all the birds away,
provided none of them stay frightened?
3
If you have five clones that hold their ground,
begun from beefsteak and hardy cherry tomato in May,
how many tomatoes will you have by August,
not counting the original two plants?
4
How many blessings are divided
among five jalapeño, four red bell,
two green bell, a cajun bell and two
cubanell pepper plants, after the cost
of purchase, and how many pots of coffee
will you and your lover drink
to get the grounds needed
to give them nitrogen-rich soil?
to get the grounds needed
to give them nitrogen-rich soil?
Extra Credit: How many cups of coffee
did you have when you bought
that many starter plants?
that many starter plants?
5
How many weeks will squash and zucchini
only produce male blooms, if it
stays chilly and rainy most of spring
into half of June?
6
More than half of your mulch
came with the property
and it holds micro-miracles.
If you keep looking and tending,
when will small wonders cease?
8 thoughts on "Garden Math"
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Love the concept of garden math as word problems. Every stanza brings a moment of reflection beyond the obvious. Kudos on the extra credit!!
Oh, this is wonderful! Love garden math and the extra credit is priceless. Bluejays are a favorite, but they can be possessive about garden stuff.
This is brilliant! It’s fun and the rhythm is just perfect. I love the part about the pinwheels! Yes!
Love the extra credit question 😂
Garden math and all the back stories is wonderful!
This is charming. And the ending is perfect!
I love this so much and agree with others–the end stanza is a cherry on top, Wonderful piece.
So cute! And I agree with all of it; esp like the extra credit!