The people who lived in our house before us had a veritable Garden of Eden in the backyard. There were vines with beautiful purple blooms. Big, lush trees. Perfectly sculpted shrubs. Giant stone pots overflowing with the most vibrant, beautiful flowers you’ve ever seen. It’s one of the reasons we bought the house.
Then we moved in.
And I found out they watered Eden by hand.
Eden died.
I’ve been left with crispy remnants of plants past and empty flower pots for years but since we decided to put in a garden, I thought it was time to fill those pots with flowers. I’m sure they will get scorched in the hot Arizona sun, but they will be pretty while they last.
We were able to run watering lines (bubblers) into all the pots save one, and since it was such a low pot, I decided to let it be Clara’s pot.
We took a trip down to Home Depot where we perused all the cheap-o flowers in the six-pack containers. I told Clara to pick out the flowers she liked best. I can’t tell you the excitement she showed. Not yet two years old but going on 16 for all the independence she’s showing!
She chose a pink/purple mixture of petunias. We took them home, she helped me pour soil into the pot and she started burying her flowers. She dug in that pot for about an hour, putting the flowers in, pulling them out. She planted a couple of them upside down and the whole time I encouraged her.
“Yes, Clara. You are doing a good job.”
“Yes. You may bury that flower.”
“You are so good.”
When she had finished, we filled up her water can (Dollar Store) and she dumped her water out on one flower. And I told her she did good. And we went inside.
Later, I went back outside and turned the flowers right-side up and watered the rest of them so she could learn to tend to them. Every day she waters her Petunias and she’s starting to get better about watering them all. Occasionally she pulls out her shovel and digs in the soil. Sometimes she pulls flowers out entirely and that is all okay. They are her flowers. Her pot. If they die, we will buy new ones. But so far, two weeks in, they are thriving.
When she's done, can she pop round and sort ours out!
ReplyDeleteHey, start them young I say! She'll be digging the veggie plot next year!
ReplyDeleteÉ uma linda profissional ,parabéns pela iniciativa,Clara está adorando.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you are starting Clara with a love of gardening. Did I ever tell you one of the bet gardens we ever had was after #3 was born, the other two were going stir crazy (ages 4 1/2 and 3) so I handed them a bunch of seed packets and said go plant the garden. Seriously, one of the best gardens we ever had and they were so proud of themselves!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great idea! My dad would totally hire her for his landscaping company. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you might be missing a trick with your own garden, how's it doing? :oD
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a keen gardener and he's developed that interest in our three kids. Every time he goes to the nursery he lets them pick out a seedling pot or seeds to buy. They are just cheap but they love it and have great pride in showing us where their plants are in the garden. It's great encouragement.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a keen gardener and he's developed that interest in our three kids. Every time he goes to the nursery he lets them pick out a seedling pot or seeds to buy. They are just cheap but they love it and have great pride in showing us where their plants are in the garden. It's great encouragement.
ReplyDeleteLove this story...what a good mama you are! Seriously wish every kid had a chance to plant flowers like this--you made my day! :) Seriously!
ReplyDelete