Gardener’s interests extend beyond the soil

Gardening is not just about the act of planting and nurturing plants; gardening is a large part about the gardener too. Often the interest began when as a small child we followed grandma or dad around the sweet-scented rose garden, tasted our first tomato fresh off the vine, or gathered fallen fruit from the ground.

Getting an education can take a lot of our time, but as adulthood settles in and our own piece of nature is acquired, garden memories return. At first it may seem like more work than we remembered, but with development of the beauty and bounty from our efforts, interest may bloom once more.

Besides making a living and raising a family, gardeners find time to bathe in the excitement of “growing things.” It is hard to ignore this interest that started so long ago. However, developing a green thumb is not all they do; gardeners have other skills and passions, too.

The Men’s Garden Club of Green Valley began in 1980, when 40 local men attended an open meeting to discuss the possibility of forming a club of retirees still interested in gardening. Among those first members who brought their own chairs and met on the sidewalk in Continental Shopping Plaza was former accountant Jim Michael (at right with wife, Danae).

Jim was early editor of the club’s Sand ‘n Seeds newsletter. For 10 years he wrote a lively gardening column for the Green Valley News. Because of his enthusiastic writing about garden matters, he was presented a national award for Achievement in Horticultural Journalism.

“Growing” interest really kicked in, and the following year he qualified as a Master Gardener by completing the first course for such designation offered by the University of Arizona/Pima County Cooperative Extension Service.

By 1999, many women were active in the group, so The Men’s Garden Club was re-named The Green Valley Gardeners. Jim and wife, Danae, are still members of what is now an organization of more than 100 men and women with an abiding interest in gardening.

As stated before, gardeners have other interests besides digging in the soil. Jim became active in the Camera Club of Green Valley 15 years ago. Subsequently he has been in charge of membership, Treasurer, Vice President, and Director. He is currently club Web master, and is passionate about taking photographs around the Santa Cruz Valley.

One of his favorite all-time photographs is “The Chocolate Flower” taken by Linda Gregory at The Arid Garden. Interest in gardening does not fade easily!

At The Arid Garden, a pretty terracotta resting bench has recently been added. Upon his retirement from its board, the Camera Club placed this bench at a location that is close to his heart. The attached plaque simply says, “The Green Valley Camera Club Honors Jim Michael.”

Appropriately, The Arid Garden was one of the first projects of the Men’s Garden Club in 1986. Some gardeners don’t feel they can use their green thumb enough in their own gardens, so they volunteer to work in others as well. That is the secret of magic places like this garden, Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tohono Chul Park... the enthusiasm of their volunteers and docents make them special.

Because of the limitations of age, some gardeners can no longer “till the soil.” However, this does not mean that the early interest is lost. There are always new garden books to read, gardens for touring, informative seminars to attend, articles to read, and photos to take in the garden. After all, once a thumb is green, it’s always green... just ask Jim Michael.

Mary Kidnocker is a Master Gardener who writes frequently about the subject from a local perspective. Her columns are featured each Sunday.