He’s been at it again. Â Planting that garden of his. Â This year, we all voted and decided that it was time for Daddy to quit planting his mountain garden and he finally realized he should listen to us (what choice did he have with 4 women voicing their opinions?). Â His girls know best and he realizes we only want what is best for him and any man turning 90 in July should really only have one garden, you know? Â So, that’s what happened this year. Â One garden only. Â In Marietta, the way it should be. Â He can raise all he needs to raise in that one garden.
They are getting the sign ready now to put in the yard of the NC mountain house soon. Â It’s a sad day, but one that we all knew would get here sooner or later. Â They just can’t continue to keep up 2 houses as much as they want to. Â They love it up there and we realized that they’ve had the house for over 35 years now, with lots of family memories and trips to that mountain house over the years.
The plan years ago when they built the house was to retire up there eventually, but when Lauren was born and my sister was a single mom, she needed their help so they couldn’t and wouldn’t move away from that little thing. Â She captured their hearts and life has never been the same, so they took her up there with them many times during the summer months and she grew to love the mountain house too. Â We all did. Â It’s a peaceful and serene place and we all have such fond memories of that place. It has a piece of all of us as well as many family members and friends over the years. Â Growing veggies up there in that mountain garden was a thing of beauty for my dad and one of the first things he did up there. Â He plowed out a nice section in the flat part of his property by the creek, out in the full sun where a garden would grow nicely. And grow it did! Â He has raised so many tasty crops of food in that garden over the years and we’ve all benefited from it. Â Now, he will be down to one garden and that will be a’plenty!
So, let’s take a look at the Marietta garden. Â He has muscadines growing on his grape arbor and those always do well.
To the right are potatoes and to the left his row of Parks Whopper tomato plants. Â He always makes sure to have plenty of tomatoes planted, since we all LOVE those. Â Thank goodness the spring rains have been good, we need plenty to keep this garden going. Â My brother-in-law, Bruce, has been bringing him bags of leaves to put on the garden for mulch to help further richen the soil and it’s doing the job.
This garden has been growing crops for many years here in their backyard. Â Since 1973 when we moved in this house, a garden plot was one of the first things done here. Â We lived next door in the house straight over the fence when we first moved here (for 10 years and then dad built this house) and there was a garden in that backyard too. The young couple who lives there now have a small garden too.
Gardening gives daddy a purpose and a reason to get up in the morning, so we are glad he still has a passion for growing things. Â This is his outlet and his “thing” and we are happy he can still do it. Â He dearly loves to grow veggies and share them with everyone. Â We have so many great veggie meals during the summer months out of this plot of dirt and are blessed to have a dad who knows how to grow things.
The other things are just starting to come up so I think it’s about the same as every other year, with peas, okra, corn, squash, zucchini, and beans being planted, but I’ll show you more when they get up a little higher.
I know this row is beans, not sure the variety. Â I’ll get back over here soon and hopefully do another video so you all can see it and him in action.
In the meantime, I wanted to share Daddy’s garden and what’s sprouting now. Â He will be out there working and tending this garden all through the summer. The heat doesn’t bother him a bit, he loves it in fact. Â He’ll be napping in his swing most summer afternoons, as that is one of his favorite spots to sit and relax after working in the garden. Â He might not have 2 gardens now, but he will make the most of this one, you can be sure of that!
These have become my favorite of your posts. God bless your Daddy and Mama, too; they are truly treasures from God’s own hand.
So blessed.
I’m so happy he still finds joy in the garden.
Thanks for sharing!
Rhoda, how blessed you are to have your Mom and Dad so close! They are truly very special people and God has blessed them — and you, too! Enjoy each day you have with them!
I can only enjoy the precious memories of my dear and precious parents! They were so special and loved so very much! Your dear parents remind me, so much, of my Mom and Dad!
Blessings! Have a great day!
What a blessing to be growing one garden at 90 years of age! Even as much as your Dad loves growing his two gardens, I bet it is a little relief to just have the one. I am 54 and I can’t imagine the work of two BIG gardens. Your Dad is a BOSS (Total compliment) Hope and pray that the house will sell at the perfect time so you guys can enjoy it this summer.
I love reading posts about your parents! Your dad reminds me of my own grandpa who was also a gardener. Treasure your parents. Family is an amazing blessing.
I would love to purchase their home in the mountains, so your family could continue to make new memories there. Sadly, I don’t think it is in my budget though. 😉
So glad to hear about your Daddy! Glad he is doing well. Please keep us updated on him! (and your Mom too)! I just love looking and hearing about all the veggies!
Once again, your father amazes me. I’m so glad he enjoys his gardening.
Thanks Rhoda, for sharing the pictures of your sweet dad in his garden. Makes me miss my dad and his garden!!! I’m glad that he has taken all of you ladies advice about only planting one garden now. I know that he has so much ambition and loves growing things…but hopefully this one garden…and it looks huge to me….will be enough to keep him busy. Sorry that the mountain house has to be sold but such things happen in every family and your great memories will last forever from that house. So glad you include all of us in your family pictures and goings on……I love that so much! Wish your parents my very, very best. May you all have a wonderful summer season. Wish I lived closer to share some of those yummy veggies!
Thank you, Diane, that’s so sweet!
Your dad’s garden looks amazing already. I love seeing the meals that your mom prepares and have been missing them lately for some reason. They are such a sweet couple. Can’t wait to see more pictures of the garden and your family summer shindig in North Carolina.
Hi, Connie, we have been giving mom a break and not having her cook lunch for us. We’ve been picking it up and taking it over there for them to give her a break from cooking. But she still piles it on when we have special holiday meals.
Sure would be great to get basic garden tips from your dad! I know he has so many ‘secrets’ on how to get the most out of your garden. Sounds like a great idea for a video/interview to me!!!
Barbara, I’m going to do that! I can do Facebook Live when I’m over there and capture it. Then people can go back and watch it again.
Great idea : )))
Love seeing pics of your family and your daddy’s garden!