Gardening with kids brings a heightened level of excitement and joy. When I see them marvel at things I take for granted, I find myself sharing in the wonder.

Last year, my dream garden became a reality and grew bountifully. This year, we decided to add a couple more rows.

Four of the five little gardeners managed their own garden last year and enjoyed fruitful harvests unique to their personalities and style. This year, things are off to an exciting start.

A Chaotic Weekend But a Garden Laid

On Thursday, Rick called and asked if we should borrow our friend, Mark’s, Kubota. Mark needed it back on Monday, so we’d have to finish the garden over the weekend. We didn’t have time, but sometimes, you must reach for the impossible.

I knew if we didn’t get it done that weekend, it would be at least two more weeks before we could attempt to do it. 

So, between Loo’s sleepover birthday party, my piano students’ recital, Rick’s parents, sister, and cousin with us for the weekend, a trip to Norris Hot Springs (one of the best activities in Bozeman), a Sunday potluck and church, and an evangelist dinner guest, we worked our bodies to the bone.

And somehow, it happened. In just one weekend! 

We made several trips to Western Pines (I highly recommend for those who live in the area) for wood chips and soil. Then we got one pickup load of sheep manure from down the street. We took a trip to Costco to get all the necessary cardboard. We then used the Kubota and a wheelbarrow to put everything where it belonged.

The Excitement of the First Garden Growth

I got my seeds in the ground last week and have now entered the obsessive garden walk stage of spring/summer. I walk through the garden several times a day, pull weeds, and look for growth, which at this point is pretty obvious and exciting.

Yesterday, the corn rows had no signs of life; today, there are rows of little corn sprouts. The asparagus keeps popping up and seems to grow by the hour. The second year rhubarb looks strong enough to pick. And the raspberries are overtaking their space and others as they tend to do.

Visions of Hallmark Movie-esque Childhood Gardening Memories

With the rows we added this year, I was able to get each child their own 4×4 plot. 

I didn’t foresee Buddy Boy catching the gardening bug this year, so I figured I’d get an extra plot to plant until he has plans of his own, probably next year. 

But I had rosy dreams of sketching out a plan with each girl and organizing seeds and seedlings, and planting a well-thought-out garden with each. 

Gardening with the children would be such a special time. The kind of experience my children would reflect on as adults sipping hot cocoa by the fire. A smile would cross their lips, and a tear would drop from their eyes.

Yes, it would be special.

But Wren. 

Wrenny’s Garden: A Reflection of Her Bombastic Self

Wren had no interest in such forethought. She must not be striving to make the same memories as I am! As I planted seeds in my garden, she would come to me with seed packets and ask if she could plant. I kept saying, “Wait til I’m done, then I’ll help you.” 

Her incessant requests wore me thin, and my reply changed to, “Yeah, go for it.” 

Three out of four sides of her garden are surrounded by wood chips, on which she does not like to stand in her perpetually bare feet. The fourth side is bordered by grass. So I have a suspicion that she has planted every single type of seed I have in the portion of the 4×4 plot that she can reach with her little arms from the grass. 

And I’m telling you, it will be fun to see what happens. So far, I see a cluster of beans or cucumbers sprouting and something else yet to be determined. 

Buddy Boy’s Magical Garden

Not surprisingly, of all my gardening children, Loo is the most thoughtful and intentional.

Her garden is carefully planned and evenly planted. Jelly’s is somewhere between Wrenny’s and Loo’s in organization. Emzee Doodle is waiting for me to help her plan and plant. And Buddy hasn’t done anything. But I planted a couple of tomatoes in his plot.

Not knowing I had planted those, Wren thought Buddy had miraculously grown tomatoes from seeds in a day. She ran inside, grabbed my hand, and exclaimed, “Mommy! YOU HAVE TO COME WITH ME!” And she led me to the tomatoes, completely awed!

I didn’t have the heart to tell her I had planted seedlings because she was so intensely proud of Buddy’s green thumb. Her seeds hadn’t even germinated, and Buddy had six-inch tomato plants. 

So, Wrenny is convinced Buddy is the master child gardener of the family, and I’m letting that slide.

I’ll keep you updated as the summer progresses and the garden grows. I feel it calling to me all the time, so if you can’t find me, check the garden.