The Gardening Passion

by Lance L. Casper

The story goes full circle. June 6th was a day that brought my life around in a complete circle. Having grown up a city kid exposed to Grandma’s Garden I now, this late in my life, realize the fire that was within that tiny, feisty woman who brought to this country from her native Lithuania a passion for planting, nurturing, growing and reaping the rewards of a farming survival instinct both visually and as a necessity.

Her prized flowers were graciously shared with everyone who touched her life. That was her way. Fruits and vegetables, the same, shared with everyone.

Gram was always baking pies. Believe me, they were the best. Dough made from scratch and the pies made from what grew in the garden: apples, cherries, peaches, strawberries, rhubarb. She made grape, black raspberry and strawberry jam, pickles, and pickled tomatoes. This was her life, her passion.

So what brought me to this wonderful realization about passion for gardening?

I was fortunate enough to enjoy the garden tour that took me through the marvelous, yet totally different and unique, gardens of noted Ken Druse and Louis Bauer, then Marty Carson, and lastly through the garden of Susan Knutsen. Now walk with me and visualize each garden in its own splendor.

Ken and Louis’s place was wild. By that I mean a more natural design: flowers everywhere, but belonging to the landscape. Each area was a marvel unto its own, even just the greens – the shrubs, the trees. Such an artistic eye, the emotional feel. Everything a fit yet never sterile, always wild – a hideaway, much reminiscent of my Gram’s place.

Next stop, Marty’s: another beautiful garden, yet totally different from the first, like a well organized precision drill team. Every flower had its place, every visual had its space. There was a plan and it worked in this garden.

The final destination! How did I wish to end the day? There was no question here at this garden with the eyes of the gardener, once again, or just the feel from within. I have to admit – I found one perfect rose that called out to me in such a way that I wandered the gardens in search of your editor of DIG IT! to show off my find. However, along the way I stopped and reflected about other areas that caught my eye.

So I recap the day that brought back childhood memories etched into my artistic brain, to focus, to realize the fervor that each artist has burning within. Each garden different, each garden unique, each carrying the signature of the gardeners who toiled countless hours to bring their passion out of the soil to share Nature’s wonders.

The circle opened my eyes and my mind to the captivation that Grandma’s Garden held for my grandmother. That passion that kept her alive and, now, it was brought out of me on June 6th. And for that I say “Thank You” to those wonderful gardeners: Ken Druse, Louis Bauer, Marty Carson and Susan Knutsen, from the bottom of this city boy’s heart.

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published June 14, 2010