The butterflies love our hot, humid weather. I do not.

 

I used to look at these perennial wildflowers (Monarda, AKA bergamot or bee balm) in my front yard with joy. Look how much the butterflies and bees love them. But after finding a deer tick on my stomach about a month ago all I can see are beautiful flowers harboring thousands and thousands of deadly ticks.  I'm entering week three of doxycycline, the antibiotic often used to ward off the dreaded Lyme disease. Meanwhile, I've developed a huge phobia about gardening or even walking around my yard. I had to muster up a lot of courage to take this little video. I was looking forward to the fall and winter when (I thought) the tick population dropped significantly until I read this: "Ticks can be active on winter days when the ground temperatures are above 45 degrees Fahrenheit." For a long time I've fantasized about spending my final years living in a big city. Get rid of the biggish house and the cars and live close to whatever I need: grocery store, library, hospital, funeral home. I'm ready to make the move but I doubt if my husband would agree.