(no subject)

Preparing the garden bed yesterday, I pulled back the plastic sheet whose function was to keep out the weeds--and found that the apparent other function of the sheet was to provide the top to an enormous ant colony. Little black ants had made tunnels two or three inches thick, in a six-foot square area and I just randomly pulled the top off of it. I felt awfully guilty, but by that time, it was too late, and, well, the garden has to go there. I'll give them a day or so to sort it out and move their eggs (to where?), but plants need to go in soon. G., bless his heart, was pretty upset, too. What can you do, though? Ant colonies have survived and thrived all over the world, despite anteaters and small children kicking their anthills and humans poisoning them and pulling their roofs off. Ants are ultimately pragmatic: they're out to get the job done.