Nature Volunteers a Surprise

Undoubtedly I've mentioned this before:  I live in the County.  Not the "country" but the County--in other words, an unincorporated area outside of any town.  That means that there are no city services:  no water, no sewage, no garbage collection. 

My place has its own well and septic tank.  And I've arranged with my neighbor to take my trash to the landfill when he carries his. 

But sometimes, unavoidably, many weeks can pass by in between trash pick-ups and that means that the trash barrels have the potential to get really embarrassingly gross.  That is why, sometimes, I chuck kitty litter and old leftovers and vegetable cut-aways into a small wooded area.  It's not the most attractive option but it's not bad for the environment either.  All you can do is the best you can.

Last night at dusk, I went out to dump the litter box at the edge of the tree-line.  That's when I noticed something bright red where nothing bright red should be.  It was a small red bell pepper.  Impossible.  I haven't thrown any whole red bell peppers out there.  I looked closer and realized that it wasn't a throw-away; it was growing! 

There have been other volunteer plants here from time to time--tomatoes have an occasional habit of popping up in the vicinity of the leeching field for the septic and once a completely inexplicable honeydew melon sprung up in the backyard.  This is the first time I've found a volunteer pepper, though.  I don't know how I missed seeing it from the kitchen window or how another neighbor missed running it over when she mowed the grass.

I've heard it said that Nature speaks in small miracles.  Yes, I'd say that's true, and I'd also say that Nature sends smiles in the shape of a small red bell pepper.

Life is good.