I hope my musings will remind you of pleasant memories from your past. Today I want you to walk with me through your favorite gardening experience. Think of your fond memories (or disasters) as we meander along.
Our biggest gardening project is a backyard water garden. Although it is relatively small, it has taken some work these past three summers. I’m always open to hearing your tips for making it “easy.” The water garden gives us much enjoyment, but not without some exertion. I’m trying each year to add more perennials. I acquired a love for the smell of turned soil very early in my life on the farm, so I’ll keep at it.
Besides farming, my mother put out a huge garden. She didn’t go to college, but she had a psychological method to get help from her 5-year-old. She gave me a corner of the garden. It was about 4 by 6 feet, and I could put anything in it I wanted. I chose carrots and strawberries. The first year I went into a field on the farm and pulled two wild strawberry plants. Wild strawberries are very small, but after domesticating them (barnyard fertilizer) they multiplied and did quite well. A few sweet potatoes, and a row of carrots finished out my first garden.
Then “my” garden grew year by year. I first added watermelons and a few gladioli flowers. Then I graduated to the big garden. The best thing about it was being with my mother. I was not an “indoor” child, and was often in the barn climbing rafters, climbing trees, or riding horse, bike or sled. I liked swinging from grape vines in the woods, or helping “slop” pigs, feed animals, milk cows, or help with harvesting and threshing. But when my mother was outdoors, that was where I wanted to be.
We raised all our potatoes and sweet corn, too. One of our horses was used to furrow out the potatoes, and Mom, Dad, brother, sister and I picked them. Potatoes were served at almost every meal. We put them in the ground floor portion of our cellar. When it got near spring, we had to “sprout” the potatoes. This meant taking the sprouts off so the potatoes wouldn’t shrivel up to nothing.
We had fun raising popcorn, too. Then after the barn work was done on cold winter nights, we’d sit around a small table by the cook stove and play table games and cards, and eat home-raised popcorn.
After getting married, I continued the traditional garden, but it became smaller and smaller. As the garden grew smaller, we bought large quantities of produce, and I put  it into jars and later into the freezer. I even made my own ketchup, chow chow and relishes. My list of things I choose to do does not include much of this anymore.
So the water garden is my way of continuing the desire to be in the dirt I guess. I like looking at fancy garden pictures. Mine would be like that if I could afford a gardener. I can get lots of ideas, but horseback riding wins out. If you’re longing for a garden to tend (for exercise, of course) let me know.
The best garden of all isn’t in a magazine, and this garden causes no physical strain. There are songs in the hymnbook about gardens. “In the Garden” and “Garden of Prayer” are superb. They speak of time spent with Jesus in prayer. A place where He can talk to us and we can talk to Him. He is never too busy to listen to us. I am continually reminded by the Bible, and by the Spirit of God living in me, that He wants to have communion with me. The picture of walking with Him in the garden is very appropriate to me. What a privilege! The King of the Universe, the Creator, Sustainer, Comforter, wants to hear from me!
I pray for my family, friends, prayer chain requests, the president, others in authority, organizations and their representatives, and other matters the Lord brings to my mind. The quiet, sweet fellowship with the Lord in His Holy Place is neglected too often. Shame on me. May I not neglect this garden; and by His grace, I pray the weeds will not come up and choke out the beautiful fruit He chooses to develop. May I not settle for only a “good” thing and neglect the best thing.
In your mind, walk with me in this garden today. Enjoy the hues and aromas. Put all the bits and pieces together and enjoy the view.

BETTY BLYLER lives in White Deer Township with her husband, Paul. For comments, questions or speaking, e-mail: blyler@dejazzd.com. See www.solidgroundcommunication.org.