GARDENING -- AN ART—AND A THEROPY
My earliest memories are of food grown on vines. I remember following my mother and father into the depths of the back acre while picking wild Michigan blackberries. I had my own little bucket and often told them, “Save some for poor little me!” Of course my method was one for the bucket, two for me. Mom also had a small garden under the many oaks but it was mostly red raspberries.

So when we lived in Rexburg, Idaho, a garden was a must! We had everything, even broccoli, which was devoured by the moth larvae. But everything else grew and was eaten by US! We even put in red raspberries and had a fine crop each year.

In St Anthony, Idaho Blaine and I had a wonderful garden plus red raspberries that were his first wife, Bonnie’s patch. She had passed on and Blaine faithfully kept it going for their 50 grandchildren.

When I ended up here in Green Valley, CA, a garden was ingrained into my soul. An area was provided and tilled, thanks to Holly and Howard Bennion, my daughter and son-in law. In
February of 2009, granddaughter Heidi and I planted red raspberries, peas, potatoes, beans, carrots, radishes, beets, strawberries, pumpkins, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, and even a peach tree. This was her “Faith” project for Young Women’s. In the yard were already a lemon tree and two orange trees. This will be my 4th garden since coming to this Mediterranean climate. Actually, I planted carrots, beets, peas, and lettuce late last fall which are providing fresh
food and I have been eating from them for several months. My son, Marsh, once commented, “Don’t you get burned out from gardening?” Nope. So far there are not a lot of weeds, so I don’t have to do much cultivating.

You can see a picture of 2010 garden produce as well as another of four of my children in front of the garden last year. All six of my children traveled here for Hanna's wedding and enjoyed my yard and garden, which you can see in the background of the kids playing on the inherited sea-saw that my father made for me when I was about 5. On the left is Howard Bennion balancing with Andrew Morford. Haydn Bennion, 6, is observing. Seated at the picnic table is Quentin Morford on the left, with Marsh Morford on the right and Sara Morford Warnick in the back right.