The  Art  Of  Compromise by Erika Byrne-Ludwig   I’d like to have it out once and for all with my wisteria. I’m simply tired of having to constantly prune her. She doesn’t give me any sign of gratitude, not even a little wave or some rustling of leaves. I was going to have this serious conversation with her in spring when she was wearing her mauve ornaments. Glorious colour and fruity fragrance! To talk to my wisteria, you have to pick a moment when she is in a jolly mood as my issue with pruning could very well be heading for a dispute. And spring was the best time for her. On my way there I met a chorus of bees collecting the flowers’ nectar. As soon as I uttered a word, as harmless as it was, they turned their abdomens on me, concentrating on their task with even more determination. “It’s our livelihood,” they hummed. “Any interruption affects our wings.” I knew they were deeply worried about the pesticides farmers and gardeners use. “They’re toxic and kill us young. Before we can gather even one small gram of gold.”  Yes, they called it gold. I could understand their dilemma. [...]