Gardening with child. In praise of the greening healing powers

Today we spent our free morning working in the yard. All of us. Hannah imitating all our steps. Moving dirt, digging holes, planting herbs. It was humid but the hot midsummer sun was still low behind the trees.

I probably have said it before. What I love most about our life in Minnesota is how hungry it makes us for gardening. When ever I can I start my morning with a walk through our yard. Most of my inspiration comes from these quiet moments in the morning. Sometimes alone, sometimes with my little one:

“Look a caterpillar!” “Can I eat it??” “I want to water the baby plants…” And on it goes.

I will never forget Hannah’s shocked look on her face when I introduced her to a baby plant. It was, when she picked the young green leaves from it. “Aua,” I said, “aua, this is a baby plant!” Hannah looked at me, then at the plant, surprised and pained. She was almost crying. I was surprised as well. It was as I witnessed the very moment when it occurred to my daughter that plants are living being…