I remember my neighbors once gave me a beautiful Bible Story book. But what impresses me now (besides the book which my kids used) is that they had one of those backyards full of plants. Tall ones so high that you HAD to walk on the paths! It wasn't a big backyard, maybe a 1/4 acre, but starting from the back door on you could follow these flagstone and gravel paths and at every turn were little statues. I especially liked the sun shining on me just after the very dark arbor. I think I was 8 at the time.
My other memory is planting petunias every year on the front walk with my mother. But it was the walkway garden above that really woke me up to plants.
When I was 4 I was babysat at a house that had a small nursery, but these paths weren't half as fascinating as all the flowering plants in the neighbor's garden.
What was your first garden memory?
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Ellen in PA
"God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of love, power, and a sound mind."
Hope I am doing this right.
My earliest memory of gardening was when I was about 8 years old. My Mom and dad collected windows form an old building and mad a gigantic green house with the coolest of everything in it. The warmth in the greenhouse was welcoming especially when a mist of water was being sprayed. I would give anything to have such a place today. Always wonder if the people who own the house now tore it down? I hope not. I hope they enjoy it as much as we did.
Roberta - yes, I have those kinds of memories too. For us it was out by the lily bed.
Welcome to FC and gardening Sinatra! I loved hearing about your memory. If your parents had a mist system going then they must be pretty advanced with it. Do you still garden?
Catlover posted some pictures on one of the threads of a greenhouse she and her husband constructed like you mentioned. They put theirs on a wheeled base, too.
Oh how I wish now that I had collected all those windows by the roadside that I passed up because I didn't know what to use them for. Now I do!
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Ellen in PA
"God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of love, power, and a sound mind."
My earliest memory was of my great-grandma. She had this HUGE vegetable garden. She would tell us that if we were hungry to go get a ripe tomatoe and she would slice it for us and that was our lunch. When we helped her pick the veggies. She paid us in tomatoes,green beans,corn you name it we were paid in it.
My kids each have a flower box in our yard. They pick out which flowers that they want. My dh tills it up and they plant. They have so much fun watching them bloom and bloom.
I grew up in the city and not many people had backyards. We were lucky we had a very tiny backyard. My earliest memory was beautiful rose bushes on one side of the yard. On the other side a small vegetable garden that was my dad's pride and joy. Such a very small garden but what great tomatoes we had during the Summer. To this day I love a freshly picked tomatoe from my garden.
my Dad always had a small back yard garden..which was bordered with flowers..zinneas were a favorite of his..he started most of his plants in a small "hot house" made with one of those windows..it was just a large boxed area on the ground with a hinged window..that he put down at night and propped up during the warm days..also remember the red brick walks between the sections that he weeded constantly....he loved working in the yard..guess that is where I got it from...
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"You will be forever missed Margaret..."
My grandparents had a huge farm. Cows, chickens, and tons of vegetables. I remember helping my gramma pick cucumbers. I remember eating them while I picked them.
__________________ Lauri
Proud Granny of Maddox Timothy Joseph and Saorla Laurie Elizabeth and Graham Michael Eric!
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.
Beverly Sills
Oh me too eating the warm tomatoes right off the vine, now my girls still eat cherry tomatoes, hardly ever any left for the dinner table!
I have a cold frame like jrz described. It is full of coal right now but I think we can get it emptied in time to start some plants. Zinnias are so pretty so I'll try those.
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Ellen in PA
"God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of love, power, and a sound mind."
I grew up in a apartment building. Wasn't until I was sixteen that my parents bought their first home. Thats where I met my DH working in my garden caught his eye. He worked with the man next door so they drove together every day. I loved planting flowers and growing a few tomato plants. Never liked figs then but mine taste so good now. Grandpa always planted zinnias in our front yard they were his favorite. ______ Sueanne
__________________ *~*~ The secret to happiness is not to get what you want, but to want what you already have.~ *~*
Ellen in PA 
Chandra
I grew up in the city and not many people had backyards. We were lucky we had a very tiny backyard. My earliest memory was beautiful rose bushes on one side of the yard. On the other side a small vegetable garden that was my dad's pride and joy. Such a very small garden but what great tomatoes we had during the Summer. To this day I love a freshly picked tomatoe from my garden.
my Dad always had a small back yard garden..which was bordered with flowers..zinneas were a favorite of his..he started most of his plants in a small "hot house" made with one of those windows..it was just a large boxed area on the ground with a hinged window..that he put down at night and propped up during the warm days..also remember the red brick walks between the sections that he weeded constantly....he loved working in the yard..guess that is where I got it from...
Lauri
