Topic: Why did you start to garden?

[Wrennie]

I've always liked plants, as far back as I can remember. No one in my family was into gardening. I guess it is just in my genes!

When I was young I liked houseplants.Later I started with a couple of veggies in pots. Then when I got my own house I did a bigger veggie garden, and flowers everywhere. Now I want to put in more and bigger veggie gardens and more flower gardens.Sooner or later there will be no need for the lawnmower!

[Jim]

I guess my yearn to garden started when I was growing up.  I watched my dad plant 4 big gardens every year and work himself till he couldn't do much more and he seemed to love doing it.  I enjoyed helping plant, pick and eat.  I didn't care much for the weeding, hoeing, etc.

The first chance I got to have a garden, just after planting it, the USAF decided I needed to return to Kuwait for the summer so it didn't make much.  I kind of lost interest then until Dianna and I moved to where we are now.

The first year, we had a small garden.  I borrowed Aunt Bonnie's tiller and that thing about beat me to death tilling the ground for the first time.  I think that's why it was a small garden.  After that, I had the bug and went looking for a tiller for my tractor. 

I just enjoy planting seeds and watching them grow.  I think next year I will plant less corn so I don't have to work at it so hard as well as finding a variety that is more resistant to smut.  I'm going to try something different on the tomatoes too.

[Triss]

Mine was from growing up for sure.  Mom always had a large veggie garden with tomatoes, peppers and zucchini.  She always grew amazing flowers.  I cannot remember a time since I have been out on my own that I did not have at the very least houseplants.

I have been consistently gardening outdoors now for about 5-6 years.  I started getting serious about it in Nebraska when I was pregnant with Mikey.  It is way easier to garden now that the kids are more mobile and can help more than they hinder.

[Bonnie]

My mom had a green thumb. She loved flowers. I guess I got it from her, and home grown tomatoes is the cats meow. Yummy!!

[Tina]

I bought a house in Rochester, NY. It's nickname is The Flower City. But you drive around and see no flowers. The  realtor gave me a garden book as a housewarming gift (veggies). I planted and harvested a lot of tasty goodies. I didn't get a second year to try adding the flowers I wanted in that house.
But a couple years later, back in California, I started on flowers as well as veggies and fruit trees. I was hooked. I love flowers. I can't grow edibles here, too many critters. But I love my flowers.
I kill houseplants if I have to grow them indoors.

[duh]

Mom had a black thumb, but she did try.  Usually by directing me or dad to do something.  That usually didn't turn out well either.  Then I was in the military where there was no messing with the landscape in place unless I wanted to blow it up. 

I would try houseplants from time to time but it never really worked out.  Until I found a website while trying to save a basil plant.  From then on I was up and running. 

I really can't say what started it.  Call it an irresistable urge I guess.

[Dianna]

I blame it all on Aunt Bonnie. I had one house plant (peace lily from Momma's funeral) when I moved to SC and Aunt Bonnie addicted me to more for the inside and then she got me started on the outside. I got the bug bad.

Too bad I didn't get the muscles and the money to put all my ideas into fruition at one time. I really do enjoy landscaping around the house...

[duh]

hey Dianna, I read your post and I have to say ditto.  Muscles and money would definitely help with the landscaping.  But I'm getting there slowly.

[Tonya]

I used to help my mammaw in the veggie garden(barefoot and loving life) at 2 years old. The older I got, the more I helped and started helping mom in the flower beds and veggies. I prefer veggies, but love a beautifully landscaped yard, too. My houseplants suffer a good bit, that is why I stick to mostly cacti- they can handle my kind of neglect So, I guess my answer is my mom and mammaw and pappaw. We all loved it and it was a great "bonding" experience that I will never forget!!