The Gardening Obsession (???)
Some (especially Wanda), say that I am obsessed with gardening and just growing plants in general. Where did this come from? Was I born with it? Could be. Was it inherited from my family; some who were commercial growers? Probably not, since I am adopted. Did I acquire this penchant from relatives? That might be the answer!
As a small child, the commercial vegetable farm was literally in my backyard. My grandmother lived next door and the farm was run by my uncle Hank and aunt Harriet. I must have been fascinated from the start by evidence of photos from that era:
Early tractor driving lessons. My aunt trying to convince me I like this!
Already out in the fields 1958
That was a hint of what was to come. The year I turned three, my uncle took me out behind my grandmother's house to a small plot that he had prepared and had me plant some pumpkin seeds. I still remember this like it was yesterday. He explained to me that by caring for these all summer, I would have pumpkins to decorate for Halloween that fall. I'm not sure that I fully understood this concept, but I went out and checked my little plot when ever someone would take me and sure enough, in the fall I had pumpkins. Of course, I did none of the weeding, watering, etc., but THAT is what got me hooked. From then on, I have had a garden of some type every year.