There is little more joy for me than when my grandchildren embrace my garden as do I. When Charlotte was barely one, she was bending over the sides of the raised beds to grab a handful of lettuce. And now 11 years later, Olivia is doing the same.
It is a warm sunny day and we have just finished lunch. After feeding the birds, Olivia leads Juana and me into the raised bed garden where she directs us to open the door to the greenhouse and remove the panes for the cold frames. With the panes removed, Olivia reaches deep into the bed of claytonia (Miner’s lettuce) and grabs a handful of the oval and heart shaped leaves. They are sweet to the taste though a few are beginning to bolt as I have not been attentive enough to remove the panes during bright days. She also grabs a few spears of onion grass that I seeded in Fall. That, too, she sucks down with her little tongue and chews completely before swallowing.
The thickly grown claytonia contrasts against the sorrel, which is just beginning to emerge. Olivia motions for a leaf and I oblige happily.
One is just enough for her as she motions for my hand and we leave the raised beds and greenhouse looking for other things to explore and discover.
1 Comment
Beautiful grandchild. Eyes more almond than olive, ne c’est pa?