The article reflects on the author's grandmother, Nana Rose, who has inspired a love for gardening that transcends mere aesthetics. Her small Tucson garden, lush with hydrangeas, lavender, and a variety of produce, showcases a wild aesthetic over a manicured look. Key lessons include embracing native plants like milkweed to attract butterflies, listening to nature, and sharing practical gardening knowledge. The author illustrates how personal growth in gardening parallels life lessons absorbed from Nana, highlighting the emotional connection to nurturing both plants and spirit.
To this day, I can expect to find her in a floral print dress, with arthritic fingers in soil, a cat or two loitering next to her, and bees buzzing around.
Nana Rose's green thumb was never just about growing plants. It was about nurturing the soil and the soul.
While many people opt for a beautifully manicured garden, Nana Rose and I embrace a wild aesthetic, allowing native grasses, roses, lavender, and succulents to self-seed and spread on their own.
Common milkweed has especially grown rampant in Nana's garden, attracting beautiful butterflies and other pollinators.
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