'I Love You - You're Perfect - Now Change'

The delightful musical comedy by the above name is about people in love. It’s not quite the same thing, but my perfect love is my garden. Not a month ago, I said to Leo, my garden helper, “I’ve now done everything I want to do with my garden. It is perfect.”

It is. Truly. Leo rolled his eyes and grinned.

Last week I met a couple from Seattle at the nearby campground. They wanted to know which house is mine. When I described my location, she said, “Oh, you are the garden.” That’s how I’m known. I am the garden.

Then — Bingo! Two unrelated incidents have led me to look at my perfect garden with...