by Miriam Hyman

Listen –
The cicadas are singing the summer to sleep
Lulling it into submission
With their reverberating hum.
Soon they too will be hypnotized,
Silenced by their own song,
And the leaves that lingered to listen,
Will wilt, and succumb to
Fall.

Fall,
Cozying into the crevices
Between the branches and the sky.
Where once cicadas sung,
Silence.

More writings at her blog Polymath Potion.

We made it back home today from a relaxing weekend camping with Sister M. up at one of those large lakes around our state. In the pile of mail awaiting our return was a large folder from the Extensions office. I thought this was odd because I had already received my Master Gardener Volunteer certification at the end of summer in 2013. I opened the envelope and found this.

I had leveled up! Through gardening volunteer hours and continued education, I have evolved into an Advanced Master Gardener Volunteer. I assume the process is akin to what Pokémon would go through… but I’m no expert on those. I would think it nets me at least a +1 to my Gardening skill and another +1 to my Volunteer skill. This program is awesome.