As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many people begin to reflect upon things for which they are thankful. Gardeners are thankful for things that may go unnoticed by non-gardeners.
A Gardener's Thanks
Catalogs. We start the list. New plants, new seeds! (You get the gist.) Web sites, magazines, good books. All deserve our second looks. Fertile soil for growing all Our favorite plants from spring to fall. Friends who share their precious finds, Binding friendships, hearts, and minds. Power blowers, tillers, rakes, Terra cotta, plastic fakes. Markers, trowels, dibbles, hoes, Help us plant our seeds in rows. Tools to make our life a breeze, (Except for hands and hips and knees.) New tomatoes! No disease! IÕll take several dozen, please. Chicken wire and rabbit traps, Purchased plants to fill in gaps. Insects, butterflies, good bugs, Remedies to banish slugs. Rain that comes in gentle showers, Washing sidewalks, growing flowers. Flowers! Color everywhere! Some are common, some are rare. Free pick-up days reduce the growth From weeds, good plants, or maybe both. Neighbors, husbands, friends who weed And help us with our every need. Killing frost that ends it all, But what a year! WeÕve had a ball! Time to sit, to rest, to read, Time to figure what IÕll need For next yearÕs garden. I canÕt wait! Hope for an early frost-free date. Read catalogs! Update the list! New plants! New seeds! (You get the gist.) From coast to coast and sea to sea, Gardeners everywhere agree. If youÕre a gardener, join the ranks. For all these things, we give our thanks.
This article originally appeared in the November 9, 2001 issue, p. 121.
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