Gardening strengthening family ties in Cameron
The third garden in our 2019 series is on South Chestnut Street in Cameron, the home of Mary Beth Carr. Mary Beth and her husband Mark have lived in this home for 23 years, and the garden has expanded several times as they added new things. It is both an oasis and a playground for them and their four children.
Mary Beth got started gardening as a child, growing up on a farm with a family of six children and parents who gardened “all the time.” They had extensive vegetable gardens and plots, and grew most of what they ate. Mary Beth continues this tradition with her “herb garden” and her “salad garden” which supply fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and seasonings for homemade meals. The children have grown and left home but still contribute. Her daughters start plants from seed in their apartments and bring them home to be nurtured.
She makes the yard beautiful with roses and other perennials, and adds color with annuals in containers. One special plant lives in a corner of the yard, a lilac bush that was grown from a sprout from Mark’s grandmother’s lilac. Four generations have loved this plant, and it represents the importance of family to the Carrs.
Mary Beth’s goals for the future of her garden include making it more care-free and easier to maintain. Her advice to other gardeners is to enjoy the process and being outside.
