Me & Him on the porch with coffee. Dan and I were chatting in the car on the way to his gig last night about family memories. One in particular stood out in my mind and after talking about it, thought I’d share.

I love gardening. Just love it. I love the smell of the soil, the plants, the fresh air and the birds singing. I love when my hands get dirty along with my feet, even though I try gloves and shoes, it’s just not the same as bare hands and flip flops. I passed on a tradition from my Mom to our kids. She was very fond of gardening in the rain. Unfortunately, she knew she had a landscaping “crew’ which was made up of her four children. When she had bushes or plants to install, she’d gather us all and out we traipsed. In the rain. Whining, rolling eyes, complaining, hauling soil, rain streaming down our faces, in our eyes, hair soaked along with our clothing. It didn’t matter how hard it rained, that was our gardening day. As we vocalized our displeasure, she’d cheerfully tell us that rain was the best weather to plant in.

“You don’t have to water anything, because the water’s available! Our plants LOVE being planted in the rain! It feels clean and refreshing! Now stop complaining and get to it! The more you slack, the longer this will take and you just may as well enjoy yourself, because no one and I mean NO ONE’s getting away!”

Fast forward to our kids’ younger years. It’s raining out and I have plants to install. I’d gather up Larry & Megan and in spite of their almost to the letter whining..out we went. In the rain. To plant. I swear I was channeling Mom, because out of my mouth came the same exact..to the letter admonishments.
“You don’t have to water anything, because the water’s available. Our plants LOVE being planted in the rain! It feels clean and refreshing! Now stop complaining and get to it! The more you slack, the longer this will take and you just may as well enjoy yourself, because no one and I mean NO ONE’s getting away!”

Mom and I must have done something right as my syblings,  Carol, Louie and Dennis loved gardening. Megan always, when her sprouts start sprouting early in the Spring, sends me pictures of what she’s discovered in her yard or calls me to tell me what she’s seeing as she walks around her beds. Larry found us this great little apartment, complete with my little slice of heaven, knowing full well that I’d miss planting.

So now, I’ve made two discoveries about myself. My love of rain and gardening..straight from Mom. Today is a planting day even thought it’s not raining, I’ll plant and remember when I love it so.
Happy Sunday!