Let There be Light

Sunlight in varying degrees is required for the photosynthetic processes that are the substance of plant life. The quality of light, its quantity and duration, the intensity of the sun (measured in elevation above sea level and angle above the horizon) all combine to provide individual family members with the basic building blocks of survival. How much of this can we control or manipulate? We can choose plants that prefer the light that is available, and place them accordingly. We can create artificial shade through structures or shade cloth. Or we can form sunny spots in wooded glens by selective thinning or removal of trees, branches, or undergrowth. But we can't control the sun's seasonal changes, or whether the 'fog comes on little cat feet' (from 'Fog' by Carl Sandburg). The sun in Denver is a different sun than the one that shines in Kansas City.