This morning I told the garden: “You are under performing.”

The garden said: “What do you mean?”

“Well, I said, I do not think you are currently doing a great job as a garden.”

“There is not a lot of color in the garden. Half of the plants seem dead. And sitting on that bench is currently very unpleasant. It is cold and wet.”

“But it is winter”, the garden said.

“That is no excuse”, I said, “I have to work in winter too”

“Compare yourself with a summer garden. They perform much better. They are warm and colorful. The plants are all alive. It is a joy to be in a summer garden all day”.

“So my conclusion is clear”, I said, “You are an under performing garden”.

The garden did not respond. This is, of course, the typical behavior of a winter garden.

My advice: avoid them if you can!