Managing Nature

Nature serves me. I want just enough trees to feel rural but, not to ruin my view. I want roses crawling up my trellis, not the wild vines rooted near my fence. My yard is filled with flowers and shrubs that tell me the seasons. It’s a prepared canvas to show off my love of the land. The raccoon wants in. The black bear searches for food in my trash. The deer roam freely and eat the plants I nurtured and coddled. The tract houses replaced the farm. The farm replaced the woods. The frogs no longer croak. The creek no longer exists. My relationship with nature is from the window. I am encroachment. What is nature and how do I define it?