Discover the Fun of Gardening
September 20, 2018   
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Fall Veggie Gardening   |   Featured Plants    |  Fall Workshops  

Garden helper in Colonial Williamsburg.

Why do you love your vegetable garden? Have you ever really thought about it? If you were to ask me, I'd come up with a whole list of reasons: Connecting with the earth, knowing where our food comes from and the feeling of accomplishment at harvest time, just to name a few. I'm sure you could add plenty of reasons of your own. And this love of gardening isn't anything new. Gardens have been important throughout time. This summer when we were traveling around the southeast, we made stops in both Savannah and Colonial Williamsburg, and in both places we learned a little bit about the colonists and how important vegetable gardens were for them.

In Savannah, there was a small garden planted along one of the streets, and a tour guide told us that it was the spot where the original colonists planted their first garden. Because the original settlers to the area had no idea what they would find when they arrived, they brought hundreds of vegetable plants with them. For months during the perilous crossing, they tended these plants in the hold of the ship. Having made the journey, they planted the first garden. However, they had no idea that the winter would be cold enough to harm the plants. That first winter, their entire vegetable garden was completely destroyed by snow and cold. To lose a critical means of feeding a new colony must have been a huge loss to those first settlers. They obviously overcame the major setback and eventually the area they settled became the city of Savannah.

It's going to take them awhile to move all of this dirt.
In Colonial Williamsburg, we were transported to the 18th century and learned all about the Virginia colonists and what life was like at that time. As we walked the historic city, we came across a large veggie garden and began wandering around in it, looking at the veggies they were growing. The folks tending it were in period dress and one of the gardeners asked Abby to help him with some of the watering chores. She had fun helping him water pots of herbs and tomatoes and they sure needed it. When we were there it was over 100 degrees! The gardener talked to Abby about how important gardens and agriculture were to the colony of Virginia and about how many of our first presidents were originally involved in some type of agriculture.

Both of these stops on our trip gave us a peek into the life of the colonists and an appreciation for our own veggie gardens. I think I'll add one more reason to my list of 'Why I love planting a veggie garden.' It isn't just the connection with the earth, but it is a connection to everyone who was ever gardened. It reminds us of the garden we tended with mom and dad, grandma and grandpa. It connects us to the Victory Gardens of the 1940s and the subsistence gardens of the Great Depression. It connects us to the colonists struggling to make their way in a new land and to the billions of humans across time who have tended a garden. Amazing that a small plot of land can make so many connections.

Whatever your reasons are for loving your veggie garden, now is the time to get yours planted. This Saturday at 10am is the kickoff of the fall workshop season with our fall veggie gardening workshop. Come join us to learn all of our best tips and tricks for getting great harvests of home grown veggies. It's the perfect time to welcome fall and to remind yourself of all the reasons that you love your garden.

Happy Gardening,
The Kerby's Nursery Family

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Time for Fall Planting
Fortuniana-Grafted Roses

Home-grown bouquets
10" Pot - $29.99
Veggie Starts are here

Lots of varieties to choose from.
6" Pot - $5.99
4-Pack - $3.99
Hollywood Hibiscus

Always ready for the red carpet
10" Pot - $21.99


Kerby's Nursery

2311 S. Parsons Ave.

Seffner, FL 33584
(813) 685-3265
www.kerbysnursery.com


Store Hours
Open Seven Days a Week
Monday - Saturday,  9am - 5:30pm
Sunday,  11am - 4pm