The accidental garden

Hi, everyone! 

Happy Fourth of July weekend 2008! With the price of gas, I am staying close to home, but there are so many fireworks displays in Kansas City that I think I will be fine, without travelling far. 

I had a great surprise last week in the garden. This is the first year I have planted anything, and I am enjoying it quite a bit. My surprise was this: Last October, I put pumpkins out in the yard for a display. Well, one got all yucky and started to come apart, and when I picked it up it fell completely apart. I scooped up the mess and didn’t think anything of it until last week, when I saw a plant bloom with big green leaves. It had the most beautiful yellow flower in the middle. I thought, could it be a pumpkin? And it is! 

I like it so much I am thinking of growing pumpkins all over the yard. Pumpkins are high in zinc, which help fights colds, and they have always been fun to decorate. I love the fact that by chance I have something wonderful growing in my yard, because I have lost many plants that I did tend to over the years, maybe pumpkins will end up being the plant for me. 

I really do admire expert gardeners who grow incredible fruits and vegetables, and I always accept their donations gladly. I think it is a great idea to start a garden as a family, maybe let each child pick out one item to plant. You may even want to try pumpkins – without even planting I produced one – so have fun and start a garden. You just might end up with a great surprise. 

Have a great week, and God bless your family!