After I finish watering the gardens, I grab the compost bucket to feed the pile. Walking by Juana’s kitchen herb patch, I notice on my left the nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) leaves holding droplets of water that look like tiny, shimmering jewels. Only a few can manage this balancing act.
Upon closer inspection, they appear more like beads of silvery mercury skating on the surface. A bit of wind causes them to vibrate as would Jello on a shaky table. The temporary nature of this sighting makes me think of how we have enjoyed the taste and sight of its flowers and leaves throughout the year.
A single orange flower hangs low, mostly hidden behind the silver dollar sized leaves, whose lightly colored veins radiate from the center. I pop the bloom into my mouth and continue toward the compost heap.
