Nothing but flowers: A late summer September day in the Ranchos
Gardening brings me peace of mind — it soothes my soul. All the workday worries seem to melt away.
This has been a challenging year for local gardeners — a late freeze damaged both flower and vegetable gardens.
The rule of thumb, “Don’t plant anything before Memorial Day” was beaten down by a hard frost on June 20. Slowly my garden has moved forward.
Years ago, I started putting wildflower meadow areas in our backyard. Now, they stretch from fence to fence. The birds, butterflies and bees fly from flower to flower.
My Grandma gave me the gardening bug when I was a kid. Every place I’ve lived, I have enjoyed creating and caring for my garden. They’ve varied from tropical gardens on Kauai to lush gardens on California’s central coast; vegetable gardens in the Central Valley to the garden I love so much today.
For years now, I’ve lived in and loved the Gardnerville Ranchos. The climate here echoes that in the Trinity Mountains where Grandma first taught me about gardening. From my grandparents’ home, I looked down to the valley in awe of one of our neighbors. Mr. Pike had a huge vegetable garden. I always dreamed of that. While my vegetable garden in the Ranchos isn’t nearly as large, I love watching the veggies as they march their way through summer.
Flowers and vegetables grow wonderfully here. Spring is always a respite from our long, cold winters. Especially this year. The heat of our summers brings a bounty of fresh vegetables and flowers. I love sharing vegetables with my neighbors and colleagues.
Most every Monday, I bring in a bouquet to work. It adds some cheer to our workweek. And I get to enjoy flowers from my garden every day.
To me, gardens are a sacred space. Each one reflects the people who created it. Whether it’s some containers on a patio or a space of whimsy, every garden strikes a chord of beauty.