How Does Our Garden Grow?

Growing up we had a pretty big garden in our backyard.  We planted all sorts of vegetables that we tasted straight from the vines or enjoyed at our evening meal.  With 8 children, my mom had us all digging and weeding, planting and picking.  Summer days were spent sweating and getting our hands plenty dirty in the Michigan soil.  

My grandparents had a really big garden, acres and acres.  I remember the days of picking beans with my grandma so fondly.  I also remember that the rows of beans were long, often it would take hours to pick the beans from a single row.  And then my grandma would inspect my work and find a bean or two that I had missed and I would start again.

My mom’s sister, my loving aunt, had a massive garden.  With 10 children, she planted even more acres.  I did not pick beans from her garden until I was an adult and she invited my children to pick beans too.  They had the joy of very long rows of beans, sweating and getting their hands dirty.  And what joy it was for me when my aunt would inspect their rows and send them back to the beginning after discovering a missed bean or two.

Gardening is such a beautiful and grounding family sport!

What joy it has brought to me to share the planting and watering of a garden with my grandchildren.  Seeing their faces as their hands get dirty and the plants flower and sprout small vegetables.  

Perhaps you know the nursery rhyme - “Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?”  As I am a Mary, I just cannot tell you how many times that has been said or sung to me, even as an adult.  Well, I always answer - “With silver bells and cockleshells and pretty maids all in a row!”

The rhyme is very old, and has a couple of references - Mary, the mother of Jesus or Mary, Queen of Scots.  I am happy to be in the company of both of these beautiful mothers.  And although the rhyme for them was about faith, religion and a queen’s realm - for me it reminds me of my gardening joy.

Maybe you will find our hat with tulips or sunshine on it will shade your face while gardening.

Maybe our mug with “How does your garden grow?” will warm you with coffee or tea in the morning while the sun is coming up.

Maybe this spring, you and your family can get your hands dirty, sweat a little and plant a garden. You may have a little patch of land, acres and acres of land or a few buckets to plant in - just do it.

 Enjoy!

-Mary