This is our second year of planting and maintaining a vegetable garden. Our garden consists of five large wooden boxes filled to the brim with top soil and cow manure. One box contains herbs and lettuce. Another has neat rows of onions. The third has potatoes and bell peppers. The fourth box is beginning to show signs of zucchini and okra sprouts. The fifth box has just been planted with cucumber and tomato seeds. The boys love to help plant seeds and pull weeds. By the time they finish helping in the garden, they are covered in the dark, rich soil.
A few weeks ago, Son #1 and Son #2 were helping us sow seeds in the first and fourth boxes. They carefully dug holes with their fingers and gently covered the seeds. Periodically, their dad would shout. "Get away from the fire ants!" The boys would obediently scamper away.
We finished pulling weeds and planting lettuce seeds in the first box. Then, we moved on to the fourth box. The kids jumped up and down, begging to plant the zucchini seeds. We patiently helped them space out the seeds in the box. Next, we opened the package of okra seeds. My husband and I discussed where to plant the seeds while the boys investigated the onion plants.
When we had made our decision, we called Son #1 and Son #2 over to the box. They held out their little hands as we placed a seed into their palms. Son #1 meticulously dug his hole and placed the seed inside. He carefully covered the seed with the extra dirt and smiled proudly. However, Son #2 threw his seed into the middle of the box. Then, he laughed with delight and shouted. "I DID IT!"
My husband and I looked at each other in shock. We searched the box thoroughly looking for the wayward seed. I smacked my palm to my forehead. Our grand and organized plan for the garden was awry. My husband got up from his knees slowly. Then, he wryly commented. "Well, I guess we're going to have a rogue okra plant in the middle of this box.
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