A Little Patch of Dirt

As a little girl, Dad gave me ownership over a shady corner of our garden. I could do whatever I wanted there. That usually meant play in the dirt and plant an occasional flower or two, while Dad worked nearby. It was never really about growing anything as much as it was about giving me a place to play - keeping me occupied while spending time together.

Years later, I wanted my children to grow up the same way. As soon as they could go outside, I took them for walks to see what was growing, to hear the birds, see beetles and butterflies. We've spent a lot of time together outside.

When my daughter was about 4, I asked if she'd like her very own garden... she was so excited! Sunflowers, zinnias, daisies, daylilies and a butterfly bush have all grown there. She used to have a brightly colored birthday plate she loved so much. She ate her dinner on it almost every evening. Then one day, it slipped out of her little hands and broke. She was devastated... until I suggested we use it to decorate. It's been out there a little over a year now, and she still points to it and tells people about her favorite plate.
                                  
My son has a garden also... although it's not as big as his sister's.  It's a little triangular plot, about the same size mine used to be. Right between sidewalk and gravel driveway.  We always put our pumpkins and squash there at the end of autumn, and by the next spring he usually has dozens of sprouting seedlings.  This year has been so dry, it's nothing but dried up grass and dirt.  Up until today, he's used it as a construction site for his little tractors and backhoes.

Now it's a rock garden.  Olivia informed me of her plan this morning, and the three of us went looking.  Some were gathered from my flowerbed borders. Others were found in daddy's freshly plowed vegetable garden.  The finishing touch was a bit of hay placed around everything.

I've been sad my son's garden didn't grow... even as he happily played in the dirt of the construction site, completely oblivious to my concern.  He did ask me why there weren't any pumpkins this year, but then said, "It's been too dry, huh mom?"

Next year his garden may go back to being a place where green things grow. Maybe not - we'll figure it out. Today it was nice watching my kids work together, have fun, and not stress about things not going as they usually do. All thanks to a little patch of dirt.