The Free Radical

Check out this clown!

This strange little plant is called Strawberry-Blite. Although spelled differently, the word “blite” (blight) usually associates with other words like “disease” and “pox” or “blemish” or maybe even “curse.” Clearly, its name points to infection… and yet it is a merry little fellow with intentions set on good cheer.

It is a member of the botanical family which includes spinach and is similarly highly nutritious. Its spade-shaped leaves taste something like tangy arugula, and its showy flowers/fruit taste a lot like… um, nothing. There is definitely something about this plant that is nearly irresistible, though.

“Imagine that you are a child again. Your parents allow you the freedom to play in the backyard all you want. Around the periphery there is a hidden fence, overgrown by the wilds encroaching from the outside. You hardly ever encounter the fence, for though you know that it is an insurmountable boundary, your world of make-believe renders it obsolete. The various roles you assume in your imaginary play all fit easily within the enclosure defined by the fence.

“Now you are grown… and the fence has succumbed to the onslaught of time; it has crumbled to nothing. The untamed wilds are creeping into your backyard, but you hardly notice. You are still enmeshed in the pretences of childhood, living the habits of a lifetime.

“It is time to play like you have never played before! A whole new world awaits your exploration. Your old roles and habits will not do for this New Adventure– they were suited to your parents’ cultivated backyard. You must discover your own hidden resources, your dormant abilities. Playfulness is your new job, for that is how you test your own limits.

“You are wild… and beautiful… as you remember Being undomesticated.”

Yo! Sounds good to me!