Growing up this backyard was my playground. It was also the site of many arguments over the weekly torture exercise my dad would put my sisters and I through, otherwise knows as mowing the lawn.
Being a girl was no excuse. And my mother was of no help since she frequently told us how she mowed the lawn even when she was nine months pregnant with each one of us.
My sisters and I grew up with gardening being a natural part of our life. I don’t remember a time my parents weren’t planting, weeding, tilling, soil testing, preparing a bed or cleaning up a bed. It was a normal part of our lives. Some parents played tennis, some golfed, ours gardened.
Compost piles and organic gardening were terms I knew way before it was all the fashion. I really wish I could fully explain what it was like driving the 5 hours home from my uncles dairy farm in the family Volvo with a few bags of cow manure in the trunk. Oh, those were good times.
This is all that is left of the vegetable beds now. My dad only plants some tomatoes, onions and garlic now, as well as his herbs. When I was growing up this was filled with vegetables that my sisters and I would have to bring to all the neighbors. My parents came up with more ways to eat eggplants and zucchini then anyone else I knew. We were eating fried green tomatoes long before the Movie.
My parents canned, preserved and pickled everything they could. I’m pretty sure we were the only family in the neighborhood with our own crock for making sauerkraut, of course from the cabbages we grew.
Nowadays the garden is home to flowers, bushes and trees. When my sisters and I gather here with our own families the yard is filled with children running and playing. My parents are in their glory!
As a young girl I couldn’t wait to grow up and leave my childhood home. Today I live six blocks from my parents. My kids go to the same schools that I did and there is a feeling of continuity and community that I never thought I would crave so much.
I love that my children love to play here and visit with my parents. I love remembering the parties that have been thrown and the conversations that have been had over ice tea and plantings.
But most of all I love that my dad took the time to take pictures of his garden just because I asked him too.
If you are dropping by from Bonbon Break welcome! So glad to have you here.
Kathy – once again another very sweet, poignant post. You are so fortunate to have your parents so close, and the garden is beautiful!!
xo
Lisa
That is such beautiful yard!
The pictures are gorgeous. It really seems like a wonderful place to grow up. (except for the mowing, I can relate). It is nice you have the opportunity for your kids to see it too.
What a sweet relationship you must have with your dad. I love that you consider yourself a daddy’s girl. How wonderful that the memories you had, growing up, your children are also now able to have as well.
what a super post– mowing the lawn was the one chore I didn’t mind doing, of course growing up our lawn took about five minutes to mow =)
Its great to have your parents so close and you kids can share the same neighborhood you grew up in.
Every week on Wednesday afternoon my kids have to help me in the garden. They have to pull the weeds, and my son has to mow the lawn!
wow…what an amazing yard… I hear you about the mowing the lawn. my dad loved it, and when he passed away my mom & I tried mowing. I HATED it… I babysat extra and hired a gardener!
Thanks for bringing back memories! Coming from a long line of “country folk” I grew-up well versed in canning and freezing, as well as a million uses for zucchini. Like you, I moved back home, close to my parents. (We bought the house my Grandparents built and spent their lives in.)
Thank you for making me smile!
That yard is so beautiful, worth all the effort! I’m a new reader, and I’ll be back!
What a gorgeous garden! Can you imagine us “pickling” together? I would rather meet at Starbucks for coffee!XXOO
Such a pretty yard and garden!! I always love your stories of now and then, Kathy! And I loved the photos of your children in the yard. How neat that they go to the same school as you…and that you live only six blocks away! Such a blessing!
Thank you so much for all your love and kindness throughout our journey! Your words always touch me. Thank you!!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Xoxox
Maria
What an amazing space – and a wonderful story of bridging three generations to one beautiful garden. Your childhood sounds quite interesting! 🙂
Debi thanks so much for stopping by! Yes, my childhood was interesting!! 🙂
wow thanks for nice memories of the past our yard looks great