My maternal grandmother was an excellent gardener. Growing up we would be tasked with keeping her garden beautiful. We would deadhead the roses, we pulled weeds, and we watered the plants – all around the house. It was a big, beautiful compound. She had all kinds of fruit trees. I cannot believe how we took those for granted. Tropical countries are good places to grow fruits and she had mango, pawpaw/papaya, grapes hanging over her outdoor veranda porch area, cocoa, sugarcane, soursop fruit, cashew nut, banana, and plantains..I still remember where every tree and flower stood. She had a clean and beautiful yard, all cemented and all around the perimeter she had all these fruits and roses..on her porch, a large veranda with built-in flower beds she had an assortment of flowers. I cannot even tell you what they were, but she had lots. I remember with fascination how she explained what every plant was and how they needed to be cared for – Cockscombs, rhizome, birds of paradise, hibiscus (I think this is Ghana’s National flower), bougainvillea, sunflowers, primrose, and especially her roses.
I think that I developed my love of gardening when we lived with her for a short period of our lives when our mum was away studying in Liverpool. When she returned and we moved away to the little college town a few miles from the city center, our mum encouraged us to have a little vegetable garden
I am so happy to be able to pass down this tradition of gardening to my children. My grammy would be so proud of them. I encourage them to get their hands dirty in the garden. After all, what could be more valuable and enjoyable than getting dirty, and wet, creating their own veggie beds, and watching their seeds grow?.behind our home. It was small but produced lots – green beans, tomatoes, and peppers, and we were always very excited to see them grow.
Planning, planting, digging, watering, and growing their own food helps teach them the importance of being organized, empowered, and assertive.
Now, who is ready for Spring? I for one cannot wait to put my hands in the soil. My mum always tells me to wear gloves, but I love to feel the soil and plant.
