The arrival of spring is the best possible antidote to all of the darkness we’ve been faced with. I was a city girl who moved to the Berkshires in 1972 totally ignorant of the basics of gardening. I remember being surprised that tomatoes grew on a vine. I never became an accomplished gardener but I do revel in the dirt, the colors, the generosity of my backyard. What experiences of planting, tending and harvesting have given you the most pleasure?
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I always grew tomatoes when I lived in New Jersey. Moving to beautiful Arizona created a challenge. First year I planted some seedlings in the spring - (May) but that was half-way into summer in AZ. The blossoms dried up. Tried fall season. No one told me they got frost in Dec.
In Spring (March) I changed from pots to putting plants into the ground. Four days later, couldn't find them. Rabbits! Back in pots, surrounded with wire to keep out rabbits, and hummingbirds. Bought automatic watering system. That year I got 4 tomatoes. I figure they cost me $10 each!!! I've got it figured out now. It is worth it just to see the miracle before my eyes. Bette
Where do I start? If it’s one thing I love it is watching things grow! I’m not sure I would call what I do “gardening”, though (I say with a chuckle!). I love digging in the dirt and planting things. What thrills me most is taking a plant that is deemed unsalvageable and nursing it back to life! I never tire from watching a little green sprout emerge from a seed planted in the brown earth. On a sunny day, I can sit on my lawn for an hour or two and pull weeds.
As I get older, I need more things to help me. I have a small stool, a long handled weeding contraption to help me. And I take my time. But my sore muscles and dirty fingernails are worth it!
Did you ever read that book about Findhorn in Scotland? I remember that those people talked and sang to their plants which is really just a noisier version of nursing them back to life. I tend to go out of my way to get as dirty as possible. I think it comes from growing up on asphalt.
What an odd coincidence! I too was a city boy and no one was growing vegetables in my neck of the woods. The first time I lived in a rural area was when I was stationed at an army base {medical corps) in rural Maryland in the mid seventies. We had a large back yard, and Janice, who was raised in the suburbs of Chicago,decided to grow vegetables . The biggest success was, in fact,tomatoes which were delicious. What I found funny is that when my mother occasionally visited from NYC she was amazed and confused that tomatoes grew on vines!
I’m not a gardener—too sedentary for me. But we do plant a veggie garden for the harvest—fresh greens and tomatoes, summer’s gifts for us north easterners. I wish I liked tending a garden. I so admire those you do—and my eyes and nose much appreciate their efforts.
I always grew tomatoes when I lived in New Jersey. Moving to beautiful Arizona created a challenge. First year I planted some seedlings in the spring - (May) but that was half-way into summer in AZ. The blossoms dried up. Tried fall season. No one told me they got frost in Dec.
In Spring (March) I changed from pots to putting plants into the ground. Four days later, couldn't find them. Rabbits! Back in pots, surrounded with wire to keep out rabbits, and hummingbirds. Bought automatic watering system. That year I got 4 tomatoes. I figure they cost me $10 each!!! I've got it figured out now. It is worth it just to see the miracle before my eyes. Bette
Such determination! Those rabbits will get you every time.
Where do I start? If it’s one thing I love it is watching things grow! I’m not sure I would call what I do “gardening”, though (I say with a chuckle!). I love digging in the dirt and planting things. What thrills me most is taking a plant that is deemed unsalvageable and nursing it back to life! I never tire from watching a little green sprout emerge from a seed planted in the brown earth. On a sunny day, I can sit on my lawn for an hour or two and pull weeds.
As I get older, I need more things to help me. I have a small stool, a long handled weeding contraption to help me. And I take my time. But my sore muscles and dirty fingernails are worth it!
Did you ever read that book about Findhorn in Scotland? I remember that those people talked and sang to their plants which is really just a noisier version of nursing them back to life. I tend to go out of my way to get as dirty as possible. I think it comes from growing up on asphalt.
I have not read that book but I’d love to!
What an odd coincidence! I too was a city boy and no one was growing vegetables in my neck of the woods. The first time I lived in a rural area was when I was stationed at an army base {medical corps) in rural Maryland in the mid seventies. We had a large back yard, and Janice, who was raised in the suburbs of Chicago,decided to grow vegetables . The biggest success was, in fact,tomatoes which were delicious. What I found funny is that when my mother occasionally visited from NYC she was amazed and confused that tomatoes grew on vines!
I’m not a gardener—too sedentary for me. But we do plant a veggie garden for the harvest—fresh greens and tomatoes, summer’s gifts for us north easterners. I wish I liked tending a garden. I so admire those you do—and my eyes and nose much appreciate their efforts.
Growing vegetables is gardening! I love that you find gardening too sedentary. I find all that bending down and getting up a considerable effort.
LOL. I just like to walk away from home when the weather’s fine. Or take a swim in Lake Ontario.