Mr. Fanny was the name of our first rooster, changed from the original “Miss” Fanny, so-called when we were still under the misguided assumption that he was a pullet. Mr. Fanny, rest his craw, was a fine specimen of Rhode Island Red masculinity, with a brilliant red comb, coppery plumage, and magnificent emerald-black tail feathers. He was also mean as a skunk.

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In the 6th century B.C.E., a brilliant general and military strategist by the name of Sun Tzu wrote a book called The Art of War. Through the centuries, it has served as a basic text for people studying the tactics of warfare. Being an avowed peacenik myself, I have pretty much zero interest in military strategy. However, circumstances beyond my control recently forced me to turn to my attention to this ancient Chinese tactician who is credited with saying, “Know your enemy.”

My enemy happens to be a little plant called purple nutsedge, aka purple nutgrass.

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Last year about this time, two Master Gardener friends and I were asked to judge the agricultural and horticultural exhibits at the county fair in a neighboring county. The enthusiastic young Extension agent had decorated the show barn according to the annual theme, and her crew of volunteers had done a fine job of setting up the displays. Everything looked great. What struck me about the whole thing, though, was the fact that all the volunteers and the exhibitors in preponderance were well past middle age. 

Did it indicate that young and middle-aged people don’t care about the whole county fair experience any more, other than possibly the carnival rides and show animals? 

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