Lesson 3

LESSONS IN THE GARDEN

Companion Planting

For centuries gardeners have used companion planting-the idea that certain plants, when planted near one another, thrive.  The Native Americans sowed the "three sisters" together-maze(corn) grew alongside pole beans, using them as a sort of trellis to climb on.  The beans in turn, enriched the soil with nitrogen. Squash was a sort of ground cover that helped keep the roots shaded and moist. In some areas sunflowers were planted a little distance away to attract aphids away from the other crops.  

One of the joys of the garden is watching things work together.  I let a group of weeds grow naturally in the back of one of my small beds.  The grasshoppers love it and seem to forget about my more attractive plants.

I am blessed to be growing alongside the companion I married.  He holds me up when I am weak, nurtures me when I am hungry and shelters me from the storms.  We often find ourselves so "trellised" together than it is difficult to tell where one begins and one ends.  And together we flourish.