The Magic of the Garden
By Dave Hamlen
When
I was a small boy, I always marveled at the sense of peace
a garden gave. Here life was irrespective of the events
of the world. Here bees, butterflies, and toads ruled giving
a magical feel to the garden. The garden itself was constantly
transforming, growing, flowering, and fruiting. The garden
was part of my world, yet I was a part of its. As a boy,
I was in awe of its transformation. The changes in the garden
were evident day by day. This world is never dull, but reflects
constant change and inspiration.
When
I was six years old I discovered the fun of growing pumpkins.
It was fascinating to think from one tiny seed could grow
a vine that, left to its natural inclinations would engulf
the garden. So I learned early in life pumpkins need their
space. A few years later, I learned how you could interact
with pumpkins to help determine their potential. It was
when a good friend of our family, experienced horticulturist,
Llewellyn Jones showed me how by injecting a mixture of
sugar and water into the vine of the pumpkin it could dramatically
alter their size. Another trick I learned was pumpkins like
a lot of rich manure and compost. I took the seeds of Connecticut
Field pumpkins (normally about a 20 lb. pumpkin) and planted
them in an area where my father once raised chickens. Once
the pumpkins started to form I cut a slit halfway through
the vine just before each pumpkin. I then mixed up a solution
of sugar and water. I used a medicine dropper to apply a
dropper full of the solution into the slit of the vine daily.
As a child, I was learning persistence and patience ( it
can take pumpkins 120 or more days to grow). The pumpkins
grew, and grew, and grew. It proved to me how nurturing
pays off no matter what you are growing. Finally by October
the pumpkins were ready for picking. I knew my efforts had
paid off as I had several pumpkins I could barely budge.
Using the bathroom scales it was determined I had several
pumpkins around 108 lbs. Keep in mind normally these pumpkins
would only reach about 20 lbs. I was ecstatic to think I
could work with nature to achieve these kinds of results.
This
is just one of the ways gardening can reap rewards while
providing fun and education. Yes, the garden is a magical
place for both the young and the young at heart.
