Our journey continued as we moved from downtown to the hills north of town. We visited Dad's friends who were his guides and teachers in gardening. They would discuss all the various forms for raising flowers and plants. Dad would learn about propagating, dividing, separating, cuttings and seedlings. When the friends began to know me I could get up really close and watch what they were showing him and even ask questions. I really tried to absorb all of the information. I could tell these were really important skills to learn.
In case you had an idea that I was close to being extra good, please discount that idea. I got called for running on the damp rocks and sidewalks; for talking way too much; for interrupting others and just being too excited. But I loved every minute of the time spent with these gardening friends and mentors of my Dad.
Some of his friends had greenhouses attached to their house; a few even had real glass greenhouses with the semi-frosted glass windows that cranked in and out. I got to prowl through all of them. I am still waiting for my first greenhouse but it looks like that will have to happen in the next life.
Other friends had houses on the hills in the woods that were very interesting too. There would be interesting rock gardens with pretty petite flowers, ferns and other green plants. There would be rocks and water falls and sometimes little fishes. There was no way we could create that at our home with our flat land. But still I enjoyed seeing their gardens and how they kept changing from week to week.
Sometimes I would leave with a tiny starter to plant in my garden. Sometimes I would leave with a plant ready to bloom that could be put in my garden. Sometimes my prize possession would be a few flowers for my Mom. And, sometimes I just had a terrific time with my Dad's friends who were willing to teach me and send me on the path to gardening. Even today, I love to sit in my garden and share the beauty of what we have planted and the world surrounding us. A year ago we had Mike build planter boxes that are two feet high and surround the perimeter of our back yard. It is located on the West and gets the full blast of the afternoon sun as well as the cold and wet winds from the North and the South. It is okay. Our Iris and our Oriental Lilies as well as the Rudbeckia plants do really well and we enjoy all of them.
Today I still find gardening good for the body and great for the soul.
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