From ZZ to African Violets: Zoe’s Budding Green Thumb

March is full of birthdays for my daughter Jaimie’s family. With my grandson Aaron turning 13 last week and his sister Zoe turning 9 last Saturday, it has been more challenging to come up with that special gift they would want. Plus, their parents both have March birthdays!

Aaron’s dad gave me some baseball ideas, and Zoe loves everything crafty and nature, so I found a few crafts for her to enjoy. Her big gift comes in June when I take her mother, my mother-in-law, and Zoe to Toby’s Dinner Theater to see The Little Mermaid. I can’t wait for that. However, my husband reminded me that Zoe told us how much she loved plants! Bingo! I went to Sun Nurseries to see if they had some ZZ Plants. How perfect would that be? ZZ for Zoe! We always sold a boatload of these at Behnke’s, and they were said to be easy to care for.

How nice it was to drive into Sun Nursery and see the hustle and bustle of getting ready for spring. The staff members were so friendly from when I got out of my car until I finished shopping. The first and best thing I saw were all the happy, smiling faces of the pansies right in front of their door. Along with other cool-weather plants, they were waiting for someone to take them home. But I had a mission—a ZZ plant for our Zoe! And indeed, there they were! Next, she needed a unique pot, and they had a nice selection. I also snagged a shamrock (Oxalis) plant for my mother-in-law. I always gave her one each year when Behnke’s was open.

Sun Nurseries’ display of summer bulbs caught my attention, and I took a few photos to remind myself to return. The dahlias and cannas were calling my name.

Later that night, Zoe showed up with an African violet. She had picked it out in the afternoon at Sun Nurseries with her mom, who bought it for her. Her mom also took her there to pick up some pansies and soil for her birthday party. Zoe was so excited to have her African violet, and you can bet I will be giving her great-great-grandmother Behnke’s African Violet List of Do’s and Don’ts. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Zoe ended up with my mom’s and grandmother’s green thumb?

I could not see Zoe’s friends at her party on Saturday since I was at the Howard County Spring Craft Show, but I did receive photos from my daughter of how much fun they were all having. It was the perfect party for Zoe. Each girl got two terra cotta pots, a birdhouse, a watering can, and paints. They spent time painting their pots and birdhouses and then planted the pansies to take home. Zoe said it was the best party ever!

Later Saturday evening, when we got home, she got her ZZ plant from us. It, too, was a big hit.

Will this be the grandchild who loves to garden? Zoe has even told her G.G. (my husband’s mom, who lives next door) that she plans to help her in the vegetable garden this spring. We hope all four of our grandchildren will enjoy gardening and the outdoors. I see signs of it from each of them. Sadly, they will only learn about their family’s rich history in the nursery industry from the stories and photos we share.

I try to share about Hillside Nursery, our wholesale nursery that my husband and I had for 28 years in our backyard. And, of course, I will share with them about my family’s Behnke Nurseries history and what a special place Behnke’s was. This is another reason I keep writing each week.