Charlie's Garden

CHARLIE’S

GARDEN

By Lisa Ann Noe



In Memory of Charles A. Noe

And Dedicated to Charles H. Smith

Charlie has a garden in his back yard . He has tremendous fun planting it each spring.  All summer he works in his garden raking away the weeds, watering each plant and spending a glorious day outside in the sunshine and fresh air.  Charlie’s garden is filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and green beans; he also has a tree growing in his yard, which produces juicy big apples every summer.



One day during the summer, Charlie’s friend Elroy came to his house to play.  “I have a garden in the back yard, said Charlie."



"A garden?” Elroy questioned.



“Yes, it’s fun to work in the garden, would you want to help me?”



“I guess so, I really don’t know how to garden, Elroy confessed.



“This is my garden and I did all the work; I planted all the seeds and I water it every day, I pull the weeds away from the vegetable plants and all."  Charlie was surely proud as he showed his friend the garden.



“My father has a garden too,” Charlie said, “But his is much larger than mine.  His has: watermelons, cantaloupes, pumpkins, squash, corn, and potatoes.  I help him tend to his garden and he teaches me how to take care of the vegetables and fruit,--- when I get older--- I’m going to get a farm and grow all kinds of things."



"Do you think maybe I could plant something? ” Asked Elroy. “I mean, would you show me how?”



  “Sure, I’d be glad to; it’s a little late to put out a lot of stuff, but we can try some green beans maybe.  Is that OK?” 



“That’s great, I’ll have a garden too and you can show me how to make it grow,” said Elroy.



The next day Elroy again came to Charlie’s house, hoping to start his own garden.  When he arrived he found Charlie in the kitchen with his mother. 



“Hi Elroy, come on in, my mom is making my lunch, won’t you sit and eat with me.”



“What are you fixing?  He asked.



"I picked some corn from my dad’s garden and some green beans, tomatoes and cucumbers from my own.  I like to watch my mom as she fixes my garden goodies so when I get older, I’ll be able to fix them for myself.”



“I don’t know if I like those foods or not?” Elroy said with a sour face.



“How can you not like them, they strengthen you to play football and basketball.  If you like sports you'd better like vegetables and fruit.  Those are the foods that make You grow tall and strong.  They also make you smarter...”



“They Do!” Elroy said with surprise.



"Isn’t that right mom, they make you strong and tall, don’t they?”



  "That’s right Charlie and they also help to prevent illness. They taste good and they’re good for you.” 



“I guess I’ll stay and try them,” Elroy said.



“For desert we will pick some apples from the back yard, if it is all right with you mom?” said Charlie. 



"Of course , just wash them in water before you eat them. “Remember," Mother continued, "you always wash all fruits and vegetables before you eat them, they have been in dirt, also be sure to check them for insects.” 



"I know mom, I wouldn’t eat off the ground and I won’t

eat my apple till it’s properly cleaned."



The boys finished their lunch and went to the apple tree to pick apples.



“Is it too late to plant other things?” asked Elroy.



“Like what?” Charlie questioned.



“What about strawberries? I just love strawberries,” said Elroy, as he rubbed his belly and licked his lips.



  “Who don’t love strawberries,” Charlie replied. " I’m afraid we’ve waited too late in the summer for them, you have to plant them in springtime along with lettuce and green onions." 



"Charlie, you sure know a lot about gardening, do you think I could learn about it from you, it sure is fun?”  asked Elroy. 



“The best part is when you harvest it,” said Charlie.  ”That’s when you can eat it and nothing tastes as good as fresh fruits and vegetables that you grew in your own garden.  I’ll tell you what my dad and I are going to plant fruit trees tomorrow, would you like to come over and help?” Charlie asked.



"Sure!" said Elroy , full of anticipation. 



The next day Elroy came to Charlie's house ready to be a gardener.  He was wearing his overalls and carrying a hand shovel. Charlie, Elroy, and Charlie’s father went to the back yard to plant the fruit trees.  Charlie’s father began to explain to the boys that the young trees he had were called seedlings, and they had been planted from a tiny seed and placed in a green house, for at least a year.



  “The seedlings look like a skinny twig,” said Charlie.



  “Exactly,” his father explained, “It will grow and become a mature tree in a couple of years.  Charlie, if I planted a peach seed from my peach , after I’ve eaten it, It will grow into a peach producing tree, providing the conditions are right.  The environment and the conditions are very important."



  “What are the right conditions?” asked Charlie.



"Well you need good rich soil, the plant would have to be placed in a constant warm environment.  It would need plenty of sunshine, plant food and water. It should produce fruit in just a few years.  Depending on what type of tree it is,” said Charlie’s dad.



“What kind of fruit trees are you planting?” asked Elroy.



“Well we’ve already got an apple tree, these we’re planting now are peach, plum, pear, and cherry trees. I also plan on setting out a blueberry bush and a blackberry vine,” Confided Charlie’s father.



“Gosh Oh, that really is a lot of fruit trees!” Elroy gasped. 



The boys had worked hard helping to plant the trees, but they were terribly anxious at the prospect of so many different fruits growing in Charlie’s yard.



“We’ll never have to buy fruit again!” Charlie exclaimed.



A few weeks later Elroy invited Charlie to his house to help him pick his first mess of beans.  The two boys were very excited as they picked the beans.  Elroy’s mother decided it would be all right if the boys cooked the beans themselves.  She knew they were old enough to know better than to burn themselves.  So the boys washed the beans and broke them into small pieces, they then put them in to a large kettle and filled the kettle with water, salt, and a little bit of cooking oil.

In about two and a half hours they set down and tasted Elroy’s first mess of beans. 

“They’re great” Charlie said as he took the first bite.



Elroy tasted and with astonishment he said, "They really are, aren’t they. Next year I’m going to put out a big garden like yours”.



"Next year Elroy, we’ll have fruit trees too." Charlie smiled at him with a toothy grin.  The two boys ate beans until they were stuffed, and never had they had so much fun.



The End



Word count:  1,222