by Lydia Holley                                         June 9, 2025

If the fictional character Pauline had a garden, I am certain it would be filled with perilous features and menacing creatures. Of course, you don’t have to be named Pauline to have these in your own garden. 

For instance, just this past week I have suffered several hazards myself. A wasp stung my ear. Thankfully, I do not stop breathing or have other serious allergies to wasp or bee stings. My ear is swollen and itchy, but what is most upsetting to me is I never understood what I did to make the wasp so unhappy. Nor have I located the nest. 

Not only do I have a wasp sting, my calves and arms are dotted with fire ant bites. They look worse than they feel, though at the moment they were biting me it was torturous. According to a 1996 article published by Texas A&M, the red fire ant was accidentally imported to Alabama in the 1930s and at the time of that article, had already spread to nine states encompassing over 260 million acres. 

With one wasp sting and multiple fire ant bites, I decided surely I would encounter nothing else that would irritate, torment, or inflict pain. I was wrong. My arms began itching and blisters forming. Poison ivy. Unfortunately, I am very experienced in treating poison ivy and enduring the suffering during the time it takes to heal. Before you ask, yes, I do know what poison ivy looks like and the oft-quoted rule, “leaves of three, let it be.” 

I have never (yet) been snake bitten (knock on wood), but it is another peril some gardeners may encounter. With the weather turning hot, gardeners also need to be careful not to suffer heat exhaustion or sunburn. Thorns, briars, and stickers are both frustrating and potentially dangerous. Keep a close eye on any sore for signs of infection. Ticks and mosquitoes carry an assortment of diseases. Keeping hydrated, using sunscreen and repellents, and wearing gloves or gauntlets, long sleeves, and boots or closed-toe shoes can help. 

With so many potential dangers, why in the world would anyone go outside at all, much less acquire the hobby of gardening that requires hours of consistent time outdoors? Because gardens are also a source of respite, renewal, beauty, exercise, and accomplishment. Small risks do nothing to dissuade most gardeners from enjoying colorful blooms, a beautiful landscape, or fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Even after suffering from a wasp sting, fire ant bites, and a poison ivy outbreak all within a week, I will not be out of the garden for long. I will soon be back at work trying to make my garden as beautiful as possible. Even while indoors, I am enjoying the fruits of my labor while gazing through my windows at the beauty beyond. Besides, nothing is risk-free. Even the Garden of Eden had a snake.  

For more information, call 903-675-6130, email [email protected], or visit txmg.org/hendersonmg.