In the Garden: A love of gardening is a legacy worth passing from generation to the next

When I was a little girl growing up in Southern California, I spent time every summer at my maternal grandmother’s home. Grandmother Emma lived in Pasadena and became a widow at an early age.

Raising two children alone during the Depression years must have been a challenge for her, but she was very independent and resourceful. A talented seamstress, she made custom draperies, slip covers and clothing for her customers to provide for her young family.

Naturally, I didn’t know her back in those days, but I do know gardening was a passion throughout her life. During my visits, she would take me out to the backyard and show me what she was growing. It didn’t matter to her that I was so young at the time: I learned how she cared for the plants and tasted fresh blackberries for the first time in that delightful garden.

I also remember her taking me by the hand and walking me down Colorado Boulevard to the pet shop, since I was enthralled with tropical fish back in those days. Each time she encountered a friend or neighbor along the way, she would proudly announce “this is my granddaughter!” Those are sweet memories for me.

At the age of 10, I became an aunt for the first time. During my early teen years, I spent time with my oldest sister and her growing family in Spanaway, Washington. In Kathy’s huge garden, I was introduced to the wonders of fresh raspberries, zucchinis and all manner of tasty produce.

One of the best memories I have from those visits was seeing her young kids out in the middle of the garden, snacking on pea pods, cherry tomatoes and strawberries. When they were hungry, that garden was where they headed because they knew from an early age just how wonderful fresh produce was.

By the time I turned 16, I started growing my own vegetable garden. It was mostly comprised of zucchini and tomato plants, but I enjoyed caring for it and felt enormous pride when my harvests were part of our family dinners.

I gardened with my mom for much of those years. She primarily grew flowers but, once again, being out in the garden was an integral part of my upbringing.

All of these memories underscore the importance of involving kids in all aspects of gardening because doing so impacts them positively throughout their lives.

When kids go to the grocery store, they should know how that produce got there. It’s a sad reality that a large percentage of children don’t understand how tomatoes, potatoes and other crops grow.

So here is my request: If you garden, bring your kids and grandkids out there with you. Share the experience of planting seeds, watching them grow and then harvesting the fruits of your labor. Let them delight in the perfection of a huge yellow sunflower, or watch the bees busily gathering pollen from them.

Teach them the importance of insects and the vital roles they play in a healthy garden. Point out the beautiful birds that visit your garden and learn together about what they eat, where they nest and how they care for their young.

If you don’t garden, ask a friend or neighbor who does to teach you how to get started. It’s never too late to become a gardener or to cultivate in a child something that will become a lifelong passion.