| An ad in the Yonkers Herald Statesman [PDF], March 30, 1961 |
1962-3 was a stressful year for our family, full of upsets and changes. We’d moved again. Ten times in my ten (and Sarah’s seven and a half) years. But somehow, that spring, this pair of rootless sisters became owners of a Punch ‘n Gro.
Shaped like an ice cube tray, each Punch ‘n Gro came pre-filled with soil, with seeds stuck to the lid. Sarah’s were marigold; mine, tomato. She remembers how we punched the seeds into the soil with a pencil. The clear lid then flipped to become a dome.
We watered and waited, our trays set on bright windowsills in our flat’s always-chilly sunporch.
And slowly the magic began.
Out of the dirt in each tray, like slow-motion synchronized swimmers breaking the surface and spreading arms wide, came the twin leaves of tiny plants.
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| Ten-year-old Helen, seed starter |
How quickly they reached the tops of the lids! And never failed to lean towards the light, even when we turned the trays to keep the stems straight. A new set of leaves would unfold from the tips as the plants built themselves, layer by layer. When brushed, the leaves would smell like green.
Whether tomatoes were harvested or flowers picked, I can’t recall. Our parents did have a huge vegetable garden that year, and I assume took over when our plantlets got to the stage for potting-on.
Yet, to this day, seeing new leaves push through the soil to open in a ta-da! of fresh green seems like something of a miracle. Even baby weeds inspire a twinge of admiration – before I yank them out.
Can one experience turn you into a gardener? I only know, in my life, this was one of the seeds sown.
This post was inspired by Gayla Trail’s creative garden writing prompt for her new Grow Write Guild on You Grow Girl. Click the first link to find stories from other gardeners, or to add your own.
10 comments
What a delightful story, Helen! I could see it unfurl in my imagination. I always feel a tingle of excitement when little green shoots break through the soil. Thanks for sharing!
My memories are similar and you are right there is nothing so exciting as seeing seeds germinate
This is such an encouraging story – so many of us are put off gardening because of early failures, but it sounds like your experience was just the opposite. I'm loving reading these responses to prompt #1; you'll find mine here: http://whenitsathome.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/choose-your-own-adventure/
I love your story. Was it by design or coincidence that the two of you had companion plants? It has been delightful to read about different people's experiences; can't wait to see what the next prompt is!
Just coincidence, Missing Henry. We didn't know much about companion plants in those days. Our mum just made sure that we each got something different. She was good that way.
A lovely story Helen – like you I marvel every time a seed, bulb or flower comes up. Winter always convinces me my flowers will never come back and it's wonderful when they do 🙂
I adore the way you describe the seeds popping through the soil and how they grow. Its a perfect description. 🙂
I love your description of the seedlings as synchronized swimmers. Perfect. – Gayla
Great memory! I love that so many of these stories are about growing from seed as a child! I have a similar story from the Grow Write Guild exercise… My First Plant
Amy
I think I'm having a vague recollection about those Punch'nGrows … I think I remember my mother growing them (I might have been allowed to poke the hole) … YA! excellent story.