Nothing I’ve ever done has given me more joys and rewards than being a father to my children. – Bill Cosby

A new iris that opened this morning, just in time for Father’s Day!

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: he believed in me. ~Jim Valvano

New iris blooming

On this day when we honor our fathers, I’d like to thank mine for instilling my love of gardening and nurturing and growing plants, vegetables, fruit and flowers.  As far back as I can remember, we had a garden in our yard and he and my mom taught me and my sister and two brothers how to put the seeds into the soil and then tried to teach us patience as we waited for the seeds to give us the peas, radishes, cucumbers, strawberries or whatever the crop was that season.   He must have taken care…