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From Ponies to Pumpkins

© Barbara M. Martin

Please note: Thank you for visiting my Cottage Garden topic and reading my columns, published here from February 1997 through spring 2003! This Cottage Garden column was written by Barbara M. Martin and is Copyrighted by Barbara M. Martin. It may not be altered or copied or published elsewhere in whole or in part without specific permission from the author. I regret I am no longer actively editing or contributing to this suite101.com topic as of mid-2003. Happy Gardening!

Kids have selective memories. Do you remember holding a buttercup under your chin to see if you liked butter? I still do.

Here are more selected life lessons I learned in the back yard when I was little.

"Giddy up pony, giddy up!" Weeping willow branches make good whips against your knee when you pretend to ride a pony.

Forsythia bushes make great caves.

Fishing worms grow biggest in the compost pile.

The very best manure for a compost pile is fresh from the dairy farm. You can bring it home in the back of the car if you don't have a truck.

Spring mud is most delicious packed into shiny muffin tins. Garnish just so with sprigs of fresh mint and a "pastry" lattice of bright spring grass.

Gladiolus sprouts clearly look like grass weeds. They pull up like butter, too. I don't fully remember this, but my mother will vouch for how mad the neighbor was when I did it.

Spirea bushes attract ladybugs and you can keep them in a glass baking dish as pets.

Poison ivy is bad stuff, so is grabbing a rusty nail.

You can make boats from sycamore bark.

You will get ants in your pants under the tire swing.

Honeysuckle tastes good but you have to wait for the bees to get sleepy.

Fallen crabapples attract bees and squish in between your toes so don't walk there barefoot.

Morning glories don't last.

Yew berries pop.

Multiflora thorns make big snags in your snowsuit when you pick the hips for your projects.

Don't look under a bush if you see flies around. There might be a dead kitten under there.

A raspberry patch is a great place to hide. You can snack while you wait for them to find you.

Ticks can stick in your hair.

Think! Don't pick the strawberries the day before they are ripe.

Watch out for mocking birds. You might get a bald spot.

When a great big round "watermelon" stays dark green into September and still won't thump right, it's probably not a watermelon.*

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