A Random Poppy

My middle child, Eridan became fascinated the other day at a random poppy flower that had sprang up in the rocks near the garden. He came in excitedly telling me about it. Even though I had seen it, I went out with him so he could show me. There it was, a single red poppy. I dropped a bag of mixed wild flower seed late winter and some spilled out into the rocks making it impossible to clean up. He was squatted down looking at it so intently. Now, this is a 7 year old boy whose favorite words are fart, poop and wiener, he rides skateboards, fights his brother constantly and pees off the trampoline when I’m not looking. Yet now in this moment, I see a softer side of him. Not the snuggly sleepy side I get some mornings or evenings, a side that i had to really slow down, be quiet and watch to witness. He was gazing at this flower like he has never seen one before, i listened as he described every little detail to me. Red petals so thin you could almost see through them, a yellow powdery center with little black dot balls. I smiled, I felt some swelling in my heart as I hoped that this was the beginning of a love of gardening. something we could share.

The next day, he came to me upset that the poppy was gone. I explained to him they only last a day or 2 but more will open. I showed him where I could see a few of the plants popping up. A day or 2 later, an excited screech from the back yard, “ a PINK one!” A whole new wave of questions, how do they change colors? Do you know what color they will be when you plant a seed? How fast do they grow? How can we make them last longer?

Last night I was in the vegetable garden, watering, harvesting, pruning. He was toodling around behind me, watching me quietly. Finally I showed him a new ‘secret hideout” under the now fully covered pumpkin trellis. He was extatic when he crawled under, pointing out some small pumpkins hanging through. I taught him a bit about training the vines to go where you want them. Then he asked to water the flower boxes. We went around together watering each one with water from the rain barrel. He asked the name of each flower. I snipped a deadhead off a marigold and he asked why. I opened it and showed him how the seeds were inside, his eyes and mouth widened. I remembered I had saved a few poppy heads to dry. I took him over and popped one open to show him the seeds inside. You guys, I am telling you, you would have thought it was a bag of squishy poop emojis! He laughed in astonishment. More questions, what color will they be? What kind are they? (I had explained different kinds of poppies the other day) What am I going to do with them? All said and done, we spent an hour at least outside- watering, talking, picking and tasting herbs. It was so special, I got to share some of my passions with him and he was so eager to learn. Even if it was only for one day i sure enjoyed it and it was a good reminder to slow down, listen and nurture the questions that are asked.

Maybe just maybe I might have sparked something in his little brain, planted a seed?

Guess what? Today he asked when we could plant the poppy seeds?!

Makes a Mama smile.