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| Notes from a Mountain Garden |
| Mary K. Carpenter | 6/12/07 |
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“Precious memories
How they linger ...”
The delightful fragrance of lilacs in the springtime evokes memories of childhood jaunts with my mother to gather armloads of lilacs for the vases on the fireplace mantle. All of our senses come into play in the garden. |
Some of my most precious memories are built around the gardening efforts of some of my family members. Take, for instance, my great grandfather whom I met when I was in my 20s and he was 98 years old. Grandpa Jackson lived in Yates Center, Kansas. My then husband and I, and our year-plus-old son, arrived in Yates Center in mid-afternoon in August. It wasn’t long before Grandpa Jackson had us touring his vegetable garden in the hot Kansas sun. This was a beautiful vegetable garden, chock full of every kind of vegetable imaginable. And Grandpa Jackson’s sage advice to us was, “if you want to live to a ripe old age, plant a vegetable garden. The exercise and the nutritious food will give you good health and long life.” Grandpa Jackson died at the age of 102.
Then there was my maternal grandfather Farley. Grandpa Farley lived in Eveleth, Minnesota — just about the coldest place on the face of the earth. -50°F is commonplace. Grandpa Farley’s pride and joy was his rose garden, which took up a good one-third of his back yard. If I got up early enough (5 a.m.), Grandpa Farley would fix eggs for his breakfast and mine before we went outside to tour the rose garden. Grandpa’s early morning time was spent lovingly tending his roses before heading off to work a full day in his dentist office.
“Precious memories
How they linger ...”
 Are you building precious memories with your child or grandchild? Children learn so much by spending time in the garden with a parent or grandparent. There are all those fascinating bugs, and birds. And the joy of a new flower in bloom. Or the satisfaction of growing your own lettuce and placing in on the table for the whole family to enjoy. Gardening teaches us patience and gives us a love for all of nature’s creatures who enjoy the garden with us.
Spend time in the garden with those you love. And don’t forget Lady Bug Day at Rito Blanco Nursery on June 30. That’s when we’ll be letting the children (and young at heart) release thousands of lady bugs to go to work tending our gardens.
“Precious memories
How they linger ...”
We wish you blue skies and sunny days.
Mary K. Carpenter is the owner of the Rito Blanco Nursery, located south on Hwy. 84 approximately 8 miles from the 160/84 intersection. Turn left on CR 326, aka Blanco Basin Rd. Look for the Best Western sign. Go 2.4 miles until you see a geodesic dome greenhouse on your left. You’re there.
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