Burning of the Grasses - March 27, 2010
March 29, 2010
Friday night was the night between raindrops for the annual burning of the grasses. These grasses are in beds by the fish pond and since they stand alone, I choose to burn them. Burning them is much easier than cutting them and it also serves to sweeten the soil and clean them right to the base.
Grasses make dramatic changes through the seasons and are well worth adding to your garden if space is available. The bigger grasses do take up a bit of room. By March, they are battered and worn and looking for relief.
This year, the crowd gathered with the necessary libation in hand for the event. The event is inspired by the field fires of my youth. In years past, it was common practice for the local volunteer fire department to burn fields in order to renew them and get in a little practice. It doesn't happen anymore but these grasses are begging for a light.
The EM obliges and everyone holds their breath for a moment. Usually there is an immediate response and a 'whoosh' but since the grasses are still a bit damp the burn starts more slowly and builds. Still, it is impressive to watch the crowd
and the grass.
Even wet, it burns
and burns and
then... time for dessert.