A Day In The Garden With Great Grandma Edna
Many of you have shared photos of your gardens with me over the past few years, and I have enjoyed each one so much! Keep them coming!
Last week, Edna Poe shared this photo of her beautiful great-granddaughter Dior, who came to help her in her garden. Dior had so much fun putting the mulch in buckets instead of the ground, but who cares? She was out in the garden with Edna.
Think about what Dior is learning from her great-grandmother by playing in the garden. Involving young children in gardening with their grandparents or even an older neighbor can become a beautiful lifelong experience.
Gardening together provides quality time for grandparents and grandchildren to bond. It can create shared memories and be a tradition that carries on through the years. At a young age, children can learn about plants, insects, and the environment in a hands-on way. Their curiosity can bring a love for nature and gardening. It’s like a fun outdoor classroom!
Gardening can involve a lot of physical activity, like digging, planting, and watering. While helping their grandparents, our children are active and learning about responsibilities as they care for plants and watch them grow. Plus, it’s a great way to get fresh air and sunshine!
And it is not just about gardening. Anytime children can spend with grandparents, great-grandparents, or even an older neighbor helping in the garden, baking cookies, or even helping with cleaning will create memories that will last a lifetime.
I can still close my eyes and see my grandmother helping me make bread or my grandfather showing me where to cut the roses (not that he EVER let me cut any). I spent many days with our older neighbor in Beltsville, Sally Lewis, doing chores like polishing the silver. While I might have been groaning at the time, it helped me learn to love antiques. She would share so much of her love for antiques.
My children remember helping my in-laws in their garden and taking hikes with my mom. Looking back, I know that, as a grandmother, it was also a blessing for them and the children. And my own grandchildren have enjoyed gardening with their great grandparents.
Thank you so much, Edna, for sharing your garden and family over the years. You, my friend, are so very blessed.
Thank you Stephanie and Edna for sharing these beautiful pics. My daughters were right there in the garden with me, starting when they were still in a basket, and growing to where they learned to design and plant their own “secret” gardens (which definitely featured hostas!). They used art, math, ecology, and so much more. They helped with the veggie garden as well. One went on to serve in the Peace Corps and World Food Organization as an agroforestry and food security volunteer in West Africa. Both still garden. The lessons and joy from gardening are priceless. It truly nurtures body, mind, and soul.
Hi Katie! I love hearing stories like yours and seeing photos like Edna has shared with me over the years. I feel we could all get together and write a book called, Lessons from the garden. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
How wonderful I know the feeling. My twelve year old great grandson started helping in the garden at the age of five and looks forward to our spring vegetable gardening ritual. It’s such a beautiful bonding experience and will be cherished for the rest of their lives. Big smile and hug to Edna and great-granddaughter – and of course Stephanie for sharing the greatness of family tradition.
Thanks for sharing that heartwarming story! It’s so special to hear about family traditions being passed down through generations. Gardening has a way of bringing people together, and it’s wonderful to hear how you’re nurturing both the soil and family bonds. Happy gardening!