This is the beginning or the 2008 version of Emory Feller’s Honorary Garden. Mr. Feller has had a garden in this spot since 1941. Well, that’s the year they moved here; I’m not sure it was early enough in the season to plant that year. He planted a garden every year and he and Kathryn did lots of canning.
Last May, Emory had a stroke and has been unable to be here at home in Kendallville. His 96th birthday is July 21st and this year there will still be a garden, although not as elaborate as the years he was in charge.
His neighbor to the west is planting carrots and something else – I am going to have to check this out – and we are setting out tomato plants. Emory told Kathryn it would probably be okay to do so by May 15th – past the danger of frost time. Kathryn thinks three or four plants should provide us with all the tomatoes that we want to eat. I think I’ll put out some cherry or grape tomatoes as well.
We’ll be heading over to Albion to see him this afternoon – Mrs. Feller and I. Maybe I’ll print this picture off for him. I probably won’t take a picture of my tomato plants; I don’t have a green thumb and he would have to shake his head and say with a smile, “Ah, AmeliaJake . . . AmeliaJake . . . ”
Guess I’ll go read up on the care and nourishing of tomato plants in Northern Indiana gardens.