The Secret Garden

Last week I traveled out West to visit my mom and extended family for a few days. While I was there, my neice Megan (age 7) and my nephew James (age 8) came to stay overnight at my mom's house, where they helped her plant a little raised-box vegetable garden in her back yard.

Those of you who are acquainted with my mom know what a green thumb she has, an inheritance from her father that unfortunately skipped me (cacti are my greatest horticulture success stories) but has manifested itself in my sister and one of my brothers. As children, my siblings and I were regularly required to help harvest the abundant fruits and vegetables that grew in our large garden every summer, a task we didn't exactly relish. (We also had to help weed and otherwise maintain the garden and numerous flower beds throughout the spring, summer, and into the fall, which we relished even less.) I recall one Saturday evening in particular, sitting on the sofa and watching "The Love Boat" (my favorite show at the time) while I shelled peas into a big bowl until my fingernails turned green.

My apparent agricultural ineptitude notwithstanding, I now appreciate the benefits and satisfaction that come with raising your own produce in a garden (and eating it!), and I'm glad that James and Megan are taking part in this family tradition with my mom. They really seemed to enjoy spending time with their grandma planting seads and flowers. This year, they planted two types of peas, as well as lettuce and a couple of other things whose names escape me now. In a month or two, they'll be able to pick and eat the food they helped grow.

Megan, planting sugar snap peas

James, at the other end of the box, planting regular peas

James takes a break with the rake

Megan shows us her new friend, Mr. Worm

James carefully plants some of the pansies that he and Megan picked out at the nursery earlier in the day