I started gardening, truly gardening, in 2020. After my oldest three boys were matured enough to play while I worked. And of those, my oldest two were matured enough to help….sometimes. It started with a lovely butterfly garden; I planted anything bright and beautiful that wouldn’t scorch in the Florida summer heat. Then it turned into a quest for natives. Unless it was free. Then it turned into a quest for edible Florida natives. Unless it was free. Then it turned into a quest for anything edible. Unless it was free. And now it has evolved towards the goal of covering my entire yard with fruits, and florals, and herbs, and greens, and all things that bring food, medicine, butterflies, and JOY. When my first three boys were all tiny together, I couldn’t comprehend how anyone had the time (or energy) to garden AND raise children. Now (and even with the addition of my fourth son) I can’t imagine how someone could raise children without a garden. The garden brings life, reminds us of our Creator, and fills us with sustenance. And there’s nothing more precious than a toddler running at you screaming because the mustard greens he just ripped out of the ground are “spicy.” Truly though, the dirty fingers, the smiling faces, and the garden snacks are the best.
My beginner butterfly garden c. 2020. This is when I learned that purslane, a native weed, is a SUPERFOOD!!! Why isn’t it common to eat this in the United States? It’s a delicacy in Italy. The photo contains an ornamental that hybridized with the native purslane already growing in my yard. I only grow the native version now (well, technically it grows itself!) I feed it to my family as often as I can.
The pink and yellow lantana is an invasive plant that hybridizes with the Florida native lantana. It’s very common along coastal areas in central Florida. Ever since a toddler of mine told me he was eating “blackberries” from the garden (especially suspicious since I wasn’t growing blackberries at the time), I decided to give it up. But I’ll never stop loving it. I guess it goes to say…their berries should not be eaten.
My experience with gardening has been one that demonstrates just how much the Lord provides. I have been shocked to learn about all the edible and medicinal plants that were already growing throughout my yard in the form of “weeds” before I even began gardening. Gardening doesn’t have to cost anything–that’s the best part about it. Although….it can cost quite a bit if you choose.
One of my absolute favorite gardening stories is when my husband and I built raised beds from wood salvaged from my grandmother’s old deck. We divided it into three sections and gave each of the boys their own plot. My oldest insisted he wanted to plant flowers. Well…his mother was not on top of it. So his bed sat empty for quite sometime. Until one day…..there was a gorgeous zinnia. And then lots of gorgeous zinnias. We had never planted zinnias before.
What a beautiful reminder from Jehovah Jireh, who hears our desires even when we don’t think to ask him for them.
“ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” -1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV
-Leah