Growing up, I always had wonderful little gardens to run around and play in. When I was six, we moved into a place with a yard that was large enough for a veggie patch in back (in addition to lots of lawn, raspberry and blackberry patches, compost heap, and beautiful borders elaborated by my dad). There we had strawberries and rhubarb in profusion, carrots sown regularly, lettuce, tomatoes, and even corn attempted every so often. At about age 12, I decided that I should create my own ornamental garden, and staked my claim on a 1′ × 6′ strip in the backyard. I planted it with flowers, sparsely so I could have the satisfaction of seeing them spread out. Sadly, I was in for disappointment, as they were all annuals, and their satisfaction was short-lived. However, nothing could kill my love (at times frustrated) for gardening, and I’m so happy that I now live in a house with a large yard that I can shape and share over the years to come.

Today I began to share that love with my little gnomes in new ways, principally the older one. He had brought home a marigold from his preschool’s trip to a local nursery, and had a Chia pet over Christmas. He’s loved puttering around the garden, stealing the less mobile gnomes’ tools, watering the plants (deluging them, at times), helping me with bulbs, digging, and weeding. Today, we started a veggie garden in very basic fashion, sowing a few seeds in little jiffy pots that we can keep on the deck (where they should get enough sun), and eventually plant them into larger containers. I’ve no other option than container planting them, as my yard has only a slight patch of full sun, right by the street. That’s not handy, nor safe, either for plants or my little ones. While only 75 days remain before my first frost date it may seem a little late in the season, but always “better late than never”, I say. The nasturtium packet I’ve had for a couple of years, the vegetables seeds I bought earlier this year with my little gnomes in tow. The nasties were a gift, and the veggies were 3 for $1, so little money is wasted either way. I used potting soil for the veggies, and a little garden soil (amended with old play sand) for the nasties.

I know that we three will have lots of fun watching them grow, and hopefully my two little ones will catch and keep the gardening bug I caught when I was little.