Our Mom, her name is Mary..was unique as far as gardening was concerned..her real passion! It was absolutely gratifying to her. Fresh green vegetables that she grew were washed and sorted and then sold; when we were young children it was an awesome and routine sight..especially during July/August/September around the time when many of the Hindu/Nativity festivals celebrated in India. Her determination was such that It was amazing to see the shade she built all alone much taller than her less than five feet frame with wooden sticks for the Ridge gourd or such vegetable plants to climb up and grow as you see in the picture. Unfortunately once it rained heavily in the night and the whole structure collapsed and she was so heart broken. Next day my brother salvaged it somehow. Whatever warnings we gave her to be careful fell on deaf ears🙄 our concern was natural as she used to do this when no one was around. At times she even went to the extremes of threatening plants which didn't yield vegetables, to chop them off unless they bore fruit quickly, specially Papaya and Ridge gourd. And sure enough we saw magically next week both of them growing in plenty. Who was scared of whom I am not sure😀 Then she would ask either my two brothers or myself to offer a Thanksgiving Mass to St. Anthony or Infant Jesus😇 That was her child like faith and gratitude. We lost her early January this year. We all miss her but I know wherever she is, she is happy 🙏❤️🤗
