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| April 2010 |
| Billie Silvey |
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| Katyana's Garden |
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| Spring is a time of new life and beauty. It’s also a time to plant gardens.
We have a relatively large backyard for living so close to downtown. And, because granddaughter Katyana and her parents live in an apartment near the beach, we’ve pretty well turned our backyard over to her. Currently, it has a swing set, a playhouse, and a picnic table and chairs. In a few weeks, we’ll pull out the wading pool and barbecue. |
| That leaves only a small strip that’s suitable for cultivation, and this year, I thought Katyana might enjoy choosing flowers from the nursery and helping put them out and care for them. (We tried planting seeds last year, but the gardener dug them up). This year, we planned a trip to the nursery on a Sunday afternoon in March. Katyana enjoyed all the beautifully-colored flowers, and participated enthusiasticaly in making selections for our garden. Soon our cart was brimming with a colorful bouquet of flowering plants. |
| Grandmama pushed the loaded cart to wait in line to check out. Plants in the cart included delphinium, geranium, ranunculus. daisies, petunia, impatiens, and marigolds. |
| Back at the house, Katyana helped Granddaddy dig holes and put in the plants in the bed with grandmama standing nearby. |
| The next Sunday afternoon, Katyana used the watering can to help care for her flowers. |
| Even young children can help plant a garden (Katyana turns four this month). It helps them appreciate the varieties of living things, what plants need to grow, and the beauties of spring. |
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