It’s that time of year…the chill in the air starts to vanish …we open our windows and let in fresh air (or what we like to think of as fresh air in LA!) and best of all, like magic there seems to be growth all over the place.  A quick lap around the back yard today proved to be a great way to get my green thumb out of hibernation.  PLANTS - that’s right, I’m talking about plants!

Ted and I both come from families that have deep roots in the soil, both literally and metaphorically.  We have farming in our heritage, and also many memories spent in our respective grandparents gardens learning of all the wonders that mother nature has to share.  For me, the garden reminds me of my Grandma Minnie, she was a plant whisperer.  She spoke their sacred language and because of this her garden always flourished.  If there was an inch of soil, something was growing in it.  I never remember her garden ever looking like anything short of a photo shoot for some fabulous gardening magazine.  I can almost hear her talking to her plants, as she always did…little words of encouragement and love…grow big, be strong, you’re loved!  When she got older and moved out of her house and into an assisted living facility I felt as if a little part of her was missing (as I know she did too!)

 Luckily, I also married into a family with a plant whisperer - Mom D!  I often think of Ted’s Mom, Mom D as I like to call her, as the Queen of the Plants…it’s amazing….all she needs to do is whisper to a little seeding and overnight it seems to have grown into nothing short of a plant prodigy!  I remember the first time that I walked into his parents place, and an entire porch, I’m talking at lest 5 feet wide by 15 feet long, COMPLETELY filled with plants - on the floor, on stands, shelves and hanging from the ceiling!  It was the first time I ever felt like outside was inside, and it was lovely. 

I believe having these influences in our lives drives us to want to put our hands in the soil and see what we can do with it.  There’s nothing like a fresh tomato out of the garden…wash it with the hose and eat it while it’s still warm from the days sunshine…it’s nothing short of heaven!  Ted has a knack for figuring out great ways to make the most of our small yard here in LA, and I am constantly amazed at the end of a summer with what we’ve grown and the bounty that comes from our labor of love.

This years garden is off and running!  We luckily had a few plants (German Jim Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Japanese Eggplants, and Basil) cling on to life through our cooler months, and they have all started to regenerate with new growth!  Also, Ted reworked some of the garden area that didn’t make it through the winter with some new crops we’ve never grown before.  We are happy to report that the seedlings are finally peaking through the soil and hopefully soon we will have Carrots, Beets, Cilantro and English Peas.

The proofs in the puddin’:

German Jim Tomatoes

Row of Beets

The Lone English Pea in the Cilantro Patch

Beet Seedling