Another year, another garden! We’re thrilled that Daddy feels like gardening again this year. This time last year, he was about to come down with c-diff, something that would change all of our lives forever. We didn’t know for about 3 or 4 months what was going to happen to his health and all of you following along were praying for him and we SO appreciate that.
We didn’t know if his health would ever be the same and even though he’s not as strong as he was a year ago, he’s doing well enough to get out and plant his garden this year and that makes us all happy. We’ve encouraged him not to go so big, but apparently he can’t NOT plant that plot of land that has been his garden for so many years and so it’s full once again and will soon bear the bounty that his hands produce.
A little more about his health. He’s still on a lower dosage of antibiotics to keep the c-diff at bay. That has been the only solution we have found to keep him healthy and happy, with care from his gastro doc. He doesn’t want to do any surgeries and at 90 years old, we just want him to live life and enjoy his days as best he can. He takes them 4 days a week and is still on probiotics too. His appetite is better than ever and he eats like a horse. His sweet tooth hasn’t gone anywhere either and mom is constantly feeding him, so all of that is good. At this point and after all he’s been through, we’ll take it!
As you can see from that smile, he’s happiest when he’s in the garden, so we are happy that he’s out there again this year. Cutting back from 2 gardens to 1, just 2 years ago was a major big deal for him, but it was time. This one is all he can handle now! And as you’ll see below, this is not a tiny little garden.
As you’ll also note, he’s using a cane now. We’ve yelled at him enough that he needed it, so he’s finally using it all the time when he’s outside and when he goes places, which makes us all feel better. He has a garden stool that moves in the garden with him so he can sit and do things on it.
The rain has been abundant so everything is growing, which means the weeds are prolific too. He does have a tiller he can run through the rows to keep the weeds down, but as you’ll see in the videos below, a good old fashioned hoe seems to be the preferred method of keeping those pesky things in check.
The garden is doing well. He has planted just about the same crop as he always does, starting with tomatoes and corn.
Looking on, there’s 2 rows of corn, peppers, and squash rows that you can see here.
Squash here and green beans to the right with okra down the way at the other end.
I think this is the pepper row with something else at the other end. I heard eggplant in there too.
Corn is looking good.
One long row of tomatoes are looking good too, this is my fave and I can’t wait til around July 4th when they will start coming in. I always look forward to that phone call from mom…the tomatoes are in, come and get ’em!
This is potatoes and something else down the row. I’ll do another post once everything starts coming in so you can see what it all looks like. There’s also cucumbers growing in another spot up a fence.
He’s a master gardener when it comes to growing veggies and about 60 years of growing will do that to a fellow. I’m so proud to have a gardener daddy who knows how to grow food off the land and eat home grown produce. We’ve been so spoiled and I know one day Mark and I will be growing a few things of our own. Mark’s dad also gardens and this year he only planted tomatoes, about 50 plants! Between both our dads we are set on tomatoes! What a blessing to have them both.
Here are the grapevines daddy wanted you to see. These are muscadines and scuppernongs, both Southern grapes that are very sweet. Last year, Mark’s daughter, Traci and I picked a bunch of muscadines and took them to Mark’s dad and he made homemade muscadine jelly that we all got to share in. What a treat! There’s no way to eat all the grapes that come in on these vines.
Dad and mom have blueberries too and it will be nice to have some fresh blueberries if the birds don’t get them first. They have to cover them up with a net. See those pretty oakleaf hydrangeas in the distance? I love those and just transplanted a couple of baby plants to our house and hopefully they will grow this big eventually. One of those plants came from my backyard in Birmingham.
They are pretty loaded though!
A big freeze killed dad’s fig trees down to the nubs a couple of years ago and we didn’t know if they would survive the cutting back he had to do to them all, but as you can see they are growing like crazy and they have plenty of figs on them this year. They had a few last year too. See the one to the left, above? That’s right behind his swing, his favorite spot to sit.
We’ve spent many a moment on this swing pondering life and talking. He’s such a good daddy!
Both our parents are so precious and I know how much you enjoy seeing them. Salt of the earth doesn’t begin to describe these two and I know you appreciate that so much. You won’t find two finer people on this earth than these two. They are loved by many, far and wide, you all included!
That’s an update on the garden! If I was a better videographer, I would know how to edit and make these videos really cute, but that’s a skill I have yet to master. In the meantime, enjoy these little video snippets from last week in the garden. Be sure to listent to the background banter going on, it’s the best part! One day I think I’ll just turn on the video camera and let them talk, you never know what’s going to come out!
Judy Clark says
Hi Rho!
That garden is looking good! Reminds me so much of my Daddy and Mama. It is wonderful that they can get out plant and work that garden. It keeps them going. Muscadine jelly is the best!
Our Son kept up the families tradition of the garden. He plants way too much every year. Especially tomatoes.
God Bless Them Both. They are precious people.
Judy
Andrea G Corley says
So thankful your dad is back in the garden, where he belongs. Give them our love!
Lynne says
Just precious ❤️😍
Molly says
Seeing your folks always makes my heart smile., So grateful that your Daddy is feeling able to garden. bless your Mommas heart… those weeds are driving her nuts! Looks like she likes her home and surroundings very tidy…like Mrs. Tiggywinkle in the Beatrix Potter books! 😃
Deborah says
So glad to see your dad doing what he loves. My dad loved to garden but not on such a big scale! God bless both your mom and dad, I miss mine.
Barbara Moore says
This just made my day! I adore those two people. ‘Salt of the earth’, indeed. You are so wonderful, too, to allow us all to enjoy them with you. I couldn’t keep up with 4 tomato plants and a couple of peppers last summer! The photos of this garden is the result of hours of work done by talented, loving hands. Simply incredible. Love to both gardeners. Thanks, Rhoda!
Rhoda says
THank you, Barbara! Your little front yard garden is looking great from what I’ve seen in your pics, those flowers are beautiful.
Gilda says
So good to see your dad out there—this is doing him a world of good..Just to be doing ‘normal’ things, the every day things, is the BEST thing to be doing in life..that IS life!
Sherman Catherine B. says
Rhonda you don’t know how I love seeking yo7r folks. It brings back memory of mine. God bless both and you are mighty lucky.
Lynne says
Just precious! I am so happy to see your Daddys garden and it is looking great. Glad his health returned enough that he can enjoy another year doing what he loves to do! Thanks for sharing your sweet parents with us again Rhoda.
noreen says
so precious to see your mom and dad enjoy their garden! I would love to be able to sit under that fig tree and pick ripe figs off the tree like I use to as a child. We dont have access to home grown figs anymore and they are ridiculously expensive, so enjoying fresh ripe figs are part of my memories
kathy says
This just makes me happy.
Beverly says
I’m so happy your dad feels like gardening!!!
Love the stories about your dad and mom. They are so fun and you are so very lucky to have them!!!!!!?
Rosie S says
Love seeing fellow gardeners. 🙂 Your folks are as adorable as they come, thanks for sharing this!
laura janning says
so happy to see your dad in his garden doing what he loves…..which is non easy chore. bless him and your sweet mama…you too!
Rhoda says
thank you, Laura, they are precious for sure!
Roxanne says
These pictures make my heart so happy. Just think about it…your precious daddy had hundreds of people praying for him all over the country, probably beyond. I bet your mama cooks best for a crowd too. There will be some good mater sandwiches at your house this summer!
Rhoda says
Hey, Roxanne, it was such a blessing to have all those prayers going up for him and I know it made a difference in his recovery. Here’s to mater sandwiches soon!
Stacey @ Poofing the Pillows says
I’m so glad to see your dad feeling well enough to garden this year! Your mom and dad are jewels!
You are doubly blessed to have Mark’s dad as a gardener too.
You two have no choice but to follow in their footsteps. 🙂
Rhoda says
Thank you, Stacey, we are doubly blessed and have big shoes to fill in the garden.
Barb says
I love reading about your parents, and as a Northerner, enjoy your Southern accents! Video tip: turn your phone landscape when recording to fill the screen. 😉
Rhoda says
Thank, you Barb! When I turn the video sideways, it always uploads that way and it shows sideways, so that doesn’t seem to work.
Grace says
Love this. You are so blessed!
Talia says
Thank you for sharing your amazing parents with us! What inspirational folks! You are all very blessed.
Shelia Massey says
Love hearing about your parents! And your Dad sure has a green thumb! Enjoy your family each and every day. They are priceless. Great pics to share!