Heather and Leah's college garden. A minor victory!

Heather and I have never been content to be like other people. When we moved into our on-campus apartment in 1999, we decided that we needed a garden. And so, we proceeded to build a garden that was the talk of our college! Needless to say, no other campus housing could boast their own "Koi pond" and mini-farm! We grew beautiful lettuces, succulent strawberries, crisp sugar snap peas, and a collection of useful herbs. Heather was particularly fond of the Stevia growing by the front door. This little garden was more than a place to graze, it was a well used study space too! Thanks to a sturdy hammock swing, we could spend plenty of time surrounded by our bounty.

UCSD's campus isn't what you'd call urban, but there was no real opportunity to get your hands dirty. Anyone who knows me, knows that I need to have dirt under my nails. It was soothing to go outside and pluck a few leaves, investigate new blooms, and just maintain our little porch garden. I'm sure many people thought we were nuts to have invested so much time, and money, into a garden that would be ours for only a year, but it turned a temporary campus apartment into a home.

We lost some fish to an unfortunate beer incident, and an adorable pot of Armeria to theft, and had some tragic plant loss due to an angry transfer student, but overall, we gained far more than we lost. I don't think either of us can look at a Fuchsia now without thinking of Jimmy. (The variety of Fuchsia we bought was called 'Voodoo', and since Heather and I were taking "The Gods of Rock Guitar", it felt appropriate to name him 'Jimmy' after the song "Voodoo-child")

Growing a garden isn't just about cultivating plants after all, it's about growing memories, and literally putting down roots. I can think of no better way for Heather and Evan to start their new lives in a new house, than to grow a garden. Even if it isn't in California.