This year Jeff was really excited about helping Bracken plant his very own garden. With some sunny weather, they headed out to a spot along the back fence. Jeff cleared some weeds and made some holes for the seeds to go in. Then he poured a seed packet full of pea pods in his hand and asked Bracken to put two peas in each hole.
When I came over to see, Bracken pointed to where he put the peas.
Then Jeff asked Bracken to cover them up with dirt.
Lastly, Bracken got his watering can and gave all his peas a good watering.
Then we stood back and admired. Right now it looks like a muddy mess, but soon the peas will be climbing up the back fence in a jungle of green.
When Jeff was eight years old and living in Japan, a man named Iraguchi taught him how to plant his first beans. He planted the beans along the bamboo fence, which made a nice trellis. Seeing those plants come up was one of the most magical events of his childhood and the experience had a profound effect on him. Jeff has had a garden ever since. Gardening has been a huge, and very important, part of his life.
That day with Iraguchi planting beans along the bamboo fence
inspired Jeff to head out to the garden on a sunny day with Bracken
and plant some peas along our wire one.
