Garden Memories

Growing up, I didn’t spend a lot of time outdoors. I wasn’t a fan of heat, humidity, or sweating, and my parents understood that. I preferred my hobbies indoors with air conditioning and, with the heat of a Texas summer, they knew where I was coming from. However, there was one thing that could pull me from my precious A/C and that was our backyard garden.

My mom was a horticulturist and an educator, so she was intent on making sure my sister and I understood the value of plants. Despite my reluctance to embrace the Texan weather I endured it in the face of my determined mom.

I would kneel on a yellow butterfly outdoor cushion next to her as she pointed out weeds and how to pull them and not leave the roots behind. I learned to check for bugs hiding on the bottom side of leaves to make sure they didn’t eat the plant. My fingers were in the ground beside hers as I learned to test the dryness of the soil. She showed the pink worms to me, so I would know the difference between them and the white grubs that could destroy our garden.

We grew herbs in the back garden, in the ground, and also on the patio: rosemary, thyme, mint, basil. Most of our meals were homecooked and, rather than using dried herbs in shakers, my mom would hand my sister or I a pair of shears and direct us to cut specific herbs to use in our cooking.

At one point we collected large planters and seeds, so I could grow us vegetables. I dedicated myself to those veggies. I checked on them everyday making sure they had enough water and sunlight. I defended them from tomato hornworms determined to eat every last leaf. I tied them to bamboo stakes so they could stand up tall. And once they finally grew to perfect ripeness, I cut the vegetables from the stem myself for us to use in our meals.

My parents no longer live in Texas, so I won’t get to see that backyard garden again. I remember when they moved they gave our neighbors the potted herbs as gifts. I miss that garden, but it never really went away. My mom still has a house with a backyard and herbs and plants. She’ll send updates in the family group chat on the progress of her “babies’” growth and pictures of her most recent harvest.

(Photos from my mom’s garden and harvest.)

If you’ve ever been interested in gardening, I recommend giving it a try. There’s such a variety of styles to choose from. You could focus on herbs or vegetables to give a fresh taste to your cooking. If you enjoy flowers, then perhaps native wildflowers to attract local pollinators to your area. Even if you don’t have a backyard, a balcony or a patio is still a good space to start a garden.

Garden Bugs & Insects of the Northeast: Identify Pollinators, Pests, and Other Garden Visitors by Jaret C. Daniels

Grow Food at Home: Simple Methods for Small Spaces: Veggies, Fruits, and Herbs to Grow in the Kitchen, on the Patio, or in the Garden by John Tullock

Burpee--The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener: A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically by Karan Davis Cutler

The Northeast Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth Friendly Garden by Uli Lorimer & Native Plant Trust

 

 

If you’re still too hesitant to try gardening, that’s also okay. Try visiting Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve or the Morven Museum & Garden using our Museum Passes service.

Emma R.

West Windsor Branch