Contact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.comThe Garden
~ Mel Gotwalt
Is it just a garden? The soil loosened
by hand, sifting through my fingers like
soft flour. The smell fills the air with the
aroma of renewal our earth
regenerating from years prior in hopes
of the future. I recall the smell of my
backyard when I was just a youth.
The scent of remaining fall leaves
crushed underfoot as I run in the
milder spring weather to visit the woods. It too is waking up and tree are showing their buds everywhere. Spring always brought welcome relief and hopes.
Back in the garden, I look at the buds popping up through the ground. I remember grandmother teaching me to welcome the new life as it emerged to meet the rays of the sun. Here are the peas, green beans, tomatoes, squash, melons, onions, garlic and peppers. Hinting at future ingredients to recipes passed down from generation to generation. I miss corn in my garden, the harsh summer heat that arrives so soon will not let it reach its maturity.
In the evening, I plan for harvest. Checking canning supplies, labels, and packets for seeds to save for the following year. The plants from years ago live on in their descendants now popping through the ground in my backyard. We too, carry our ancestors as we live our lives, striving to be fruitful and reflect their goodness. I have sweet memories of harvest with my grandmother, sitting on the back porch pulling the strings off the peapods. I learned many things from her as we sat and filled our bowls with fresh peas.
Some of my harvest will find its way to my children and grandchildren. I hope they keep the traditions, and enjoy many cherished memories even after I have walked on. In the end, there is truly much more to this small patch. I ask again, Is it just a garden?