Since my mom passed away, things are getting back to somewhat normal around here. I still miss her and I'm sure I always will. There are moments when I forget, and I pick up the phone to call her or start to email her and suddenly I remember. But I think that will probably always happen, and I'm just used to talking to her out loud now wherever I am.
Since her house is right up the street from mine (about a half mile walk), the job of tending to the gardens in the front and back yards has fallen to me. I go up there almost daily and pull weeds, water the plants, and take pictures of her beautiful flowers. My mom had the most amazing green thumb. I only hope a little of it rubs off on me.
The other day, I was up tending to her raised bed in the backyard, when I discovered the most amazing thing (to me, anyway). Maybe a little background would help you all be amazed too.
One of the things Mom was lamenting about on Mother's Day weekend is that she hadn't had the energy to go buy any tomato plants, so there would be no amazing tomato harvest this year to make salsas and sauces from. After her passing, when it became clear that we will have to continue caring for her garden and home while probate is settled, I seriously considered running out to buy some tomato plants just for her garden spot. Life got busy, though, with planning and holding the memorial, kids getting out of school, work, and other things, and I just never had the chance.
The other day, I went up as usual to pull some weeds and just hang out in Mom's peaceful backyard watching the birds. As I wrapped my hand around a weed growing up and around the extended edge of the raised bed and began to yank it out, a familiar aroma hit my nose and at the same time I noticed the little yellow flower on the plant. There was a healthy, blooming, tomato plant growing up from the very edge of the bed. It was all twisty from having to reach up and around from the shade under the edge, but it was in very healthy shape and blooming! I decided it would have a better chance at survival if I dug it up and transplanted it to a sunny spot. When I did, it turned out there was not only one tomato plant, but two rather large ones and SIX smaller-sized ones with healthy roots. I was amazed.
So, in addition to having my memories, the things in my home that remind me of my mom, and pictures of her beautiful flowers, with any luck we will have tomatoes this summer. Thanks, Mom.
PS: Pictures of some of her beautiful flowers, a couple of her garden itself, and of the surprise tomatoes can be seen in my photo album,
here.
You will have to take more pictures as they continue to grow and produce so we can also see.
