In an orderly garden, people sow lettuce seeds in neat rows. In my garden, wind and birds and gravity sow the lettuce seeds in a seemingly haphazard pattern.

My lettuce grows among the perennials, just another plant making flowers and setting seed. By the time the flower buds appear the lettuce is too bitter for me, but some people enjoy bolting lettuce cooked with other greens. This method of planting does mean we get lettuce on nature’s schedule, not necessarily the one we might choose. That’s true of so many of the foods we grow, though. We can enjoy it while it’s here, and look forward to it while it’s not.