My father, Michele, was born in a small town in Italy called Bitetto, about 20 miles from Bari. He eventually bought a house in Canarsie, Brooklyn, that had a plot of land where he could do some gardening. He loved gardening and planted a lot […]

A Marigold of Mother As far as I recall, my mother has been planting tagetes [marigold] every Summer in Sardinia. On top of the cupboard, there is a little jar full of their seeds. I can picture her reaching for them, early in the morning […]

Click on the audio file above to listen to Maria read her story.   “Nonna, why do you love flowers so much?”  A question that my grandson asked me one beautiful Spring day.  I smiled at him “honey the garden gives me peace.”  I have […]

This is a story about trying to grow a plant where it doesn’t belong. I live in Colorado. But I am not from here. Colorado is lovely, but it is not home.  Home is New England. Greater Boston, specifically, where my family still lives. But […]