Dear Mom and Dad: A Garden Love Letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you for giving me a garden filled with magic instead of just grass to play on. I know some of my friends have perfect green lawns, and that's nice too, but I want to tell you why I love our wild and wonderful garden so much.

Every day brings a new discovery. This morning, I found chocolate flowers that smell just like candy! Did you plant those just for me? I love rubbing the lemon balm leaves between my fingers and pretending I'm making fairy potions. And you never get mad when I nibble on the chives while playing hide and seek among the plants.

Remember when we watched that butterfly lay her tiny eggs on the fennel? I felt like I was witnessing a secret miracle. Now I check every day to see if they've hatched. The garden is better than any TV show - there's always something happening! The hummingbirds zoom around the agastache like tiny rockets, and sometimes the bumblebees bump into each other like they forgot how to fly. It makes me giggle every time.

I love watching the parent birds searching for caterpillars to feed their babies. They remind me of you making dinner for me - everyone needs good food to grow! The ladybugs march up and down the black-eyed susans like tiny firefighters on patrol, and the goldfinches look like flying sunshine when they come to eat the sunflower seeds.

Sometimes I lie on my belly in the grass and watch the goldenrod swaying under the weight of all the buzzing visitors. That's how I discovered where the roly-polies live! And sometimes, if I'm really quiet and patient, I can spot insects that look exactly like leaves or sticks. It's like a living I Spy game!

I know some people think gardens should be neat and tidy, but I'm so happy you let ours be a little wild. Every day there's something new to learn, touch, smell, or taste. It's like having a playground and a science museum and a fairy tale all in our backyard.

Thank you for letting me grow up in a garden where nature can be itself. I promise to share all my discoveries with you, even the slimy snails!

Love, Your Curious Garden Explorer

P.S. Can we plant more chocolate flowers? They're almost as good as real chocolate... almost!