FAMILY HORTICULTURIST

My husband Steven and our son Alex and I were walking into the house after an afternoon visit with Steven’s brother and his family.

“I love visiting Liz and Donny!” I dropped the two packages of parsley seeds on the coffee table. “I feel like Donny’s our own family horticulturist.” I was still nibbling on the blade of garlic chive I’d broken off one of their plants. “I’m feeling inspired!”

Steven started to laugh as he began turning on the lights in the living room. “Exactly what are you inspired to do?”

“Plant a full herb garden next year!” I picked up the parsley seeds. “And I’ll start with these.” I began looking at the back of the packet. “Wow, I can’t find anything written in English on here.” I raised my eyebrows as I looked back at Steven. “That must mean they’re really good!” I looked again. “Oh, wait there’s some English next to the United Kingdom flag.”

I handed the packet to Steven. He looked at the packet, nodded his conformation, then handed it back to me.

“I also want to get some of this garlic chive.” I looked over at Alex holding up the blade that was still in my hand. “Did you taste any of this?”

Alex shook his head. “Not a fan of garlic.”

I sighed. “Oh yeah.” I shrugged my shoulders. “We’ll get regular chives and garlic chives!” I went over to the kitchen window and looked out on our deck. The sun was just beginning to set as I pointed to a few pots still out there. “I still have some mint and some parsley that I’d gotten for the monarch butterflies a few months ago.”

Steven stood next to me and looked out the window. “What happened to the pot basil we had?”

I looked over at him and shrugged my shoulders. “Well, the basil started out strong but then I kind of forgot to water it.”

Steven shook his head as he went over to the cabinet to get a glass then went to the refrigerator to fill it with water. “I’m not feeling much hope for this herb garden next year.”

I ignored him and asked, “What was the name of that vine that Donny pulled those little tiny berries from. Remember it tasted just like kiwi?”

“I think it was actually called a kiwi vine.”

I snorted a little laugh. “Well, that’s appropriate.” I looked over at Alex again. “I don’t think you got one, but they were delicious!” I looked back at Steven. “How about we get one of those too!” I pointed to the side of the yard where our cyclone fence was. “We can plant it over there. We could cover up the ugly fence and have delicious fruit at the same time!”

Steven looked confused. “Didn’t Donny say the birds got to them before he got a chance to pick any of them?”

“Well, maybe we’ll have better luck.”

Steven raised his eyebrows, a surprised look on his face. “Donny works in his garden every day and you can’t remember to water your basil.” Steven took a drink of water then shook his head. “Who do you think has a better chance of beating the birds to a harvest.” Steven place his glass in the sink and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

I looked over at Alex. “Well, at least your Uncle Donny has faith in me.”

Alex came over and patted me on the shoulder. “I have faith in you, too.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I looked back at Steven then walked over to the coffee table, picked up the packet of seeds and started shaking them. “Just you wait and see! It’s going to be awesome!”