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It never seemed to matter what the question was, the three women in my childhood would give me the same answer, "There's always a reason". Sometimes that reason was because they said so, but most of the time Mom, Granny Ninna or Aunt Bett would go ahead and explain their answers to my questions. All these many years later their knowledge is my treasure.
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In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous. (Aristotle) My mother was a schoolteacher and when I was very small I spent most of my time with Granny Ninna and Aunt Bett. During school days, Mom and I lived with Ninna through the years of WWII, and on weekends we would visit with my maternal grandparents. Ninna lived much closer to the school where my mother taught and it was easier for her to walk the mile to and from work. After my dad came home from the military, we continued to live in the house with Ninna, where he had grown up. There were no daycare centers in the mountains, and I never heard of a babysitter until I had my own children, So there I was with Ninna and Aunt Bett, their two houses separated only by a short walk down a dirt road and a leap across the creek. In the early spring when it was planting time, I tagged along with them to work in both their gardens. It seems to me now that they might have alternated days in each other's gardens, but whatever they did, it worked for both of them. Their gardens were a sight to behold. They were widows, and they were survivors, so working in the garden was just a way of life from daylight till nearly dark, from early spring till the crops were all in, and all the vegetables had been "put away" for winter. Of course gardening in those days meant planting, weeding, gathering, canning, drying and everything that goes with having enough food to last all winter. It also meant saving and trading seeds. I remember that one of the great uncles would come each spring to plow the fields where the gardens were to be, and they came to clear the field when the season was over, but those were the only times when a man was in either of the two gardens. Gardening was a woman's work. Both of these lovely ladies grew flowers among their vegetables. At the time I thought morning glories were supposed to grow up the corn stalks, and bee balm was always among the tomatoes. Lettuce beds were planted several times from early spring till late summer, and those beds were surrounded by the bobbing heads of the spider plants. That's just the way it was, until I asked and was told: "There is always a reason....." In writing articles about Aunt Bett and her medicinal plants, I had to dig deep into my memory bank. I also dug into my old photographs, recipe books, papers and all the assorted items that can be handed down from a mother to a daughter. Luckily for me, in her papers and albums, Mom had saved what she had from other relatives including Aunt Bett. It is a good thing that I am expecting no company anytime soon because one extra bedroom is covered in old papers, pictures and paraphenalia of past lives. Among the papers that I found was one that had lists in two columns. The list was divided into sections and was simply the common names of plants that were easily grown in the Appalachian mountains. I kept looking for more references but couldn't find any that made sense to me. The paper it was written on was brown with age and the printing on it did not seem to match that of any of my relatives. I spent the better part of two days trying to remember their gardens. Finally, just like a flash in the dark, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. I love moments like that, don't you? However, that first memory was anything but pretty. I remembered being barefoot in the garden and stepping on a toad. I had already heard about the warts that touching a toad was going to cause, and just thinking about a wart covered foot brought on the tears. I was so upset I wanted to get rid of every frog in that garden, but Ninna and Aunt Bett told me this: "There is a reason to have toads in the garden." I really cannot claim to remember the exact words, but they told me that toads are good for the garden because they act as a natural pest control. That was one of my first "reasons". With the help of some older relatives, I have since remembered many more. To my surprise, what those two little old ladies were doing was Companion Planting. It did not have a name in those days, at least none that I ever heard, and I am not sure that it was done with a plan in mind. It was simply what had worked for them in the past, and that was enough of a reason. We now know that many plants have natural substances in their roots and leaves that can alternately repel or attract insects as needed, as well as enriching the soil. Here is a brief listing of what they planted together, and in most cases why, written in my words with a few of theirs thrown in. Cleome was always planted around a lettuce bed to shade the lettuce during the hot summer days. Peas were always planted next to corn, peas are good for the soil. Drop a castor bean (Ricinus communis) into mole holes, it poisons the moles. Plant castor beans in the garden, it poisons beetles and varmints. Sprinkle hot pepper or mothballs to keep rodents away from bulbs. Squash several cloves of garlic and soak in water overnight. Spray the water on plants to prevent caterpillars. These flowers kill insects and Japanese beetles: Aster, Datura, four o'clocks (Maribilus jalapa), larkspur (delphinium); they are also poisonous to people. These repel or deter insects: basil (Ocimum basilicum) repels flies and mosquitoes; catnip (Nepeta cataria) repels fleas and beetles; chives (Allium) repels most harmful insects; Chrysanthemum deters most insects; Dahlias repel nematodes; geranium (Pelargonium) plant with corn and cabbage; mint (Mentha) deters cabbage moth and ants; marigold (Tagetes) keeps pests from tomatoes and roses and repels bean beetles and aphids; lavender (Lavendula) repels ticks; nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) deter aphids and beetles; rosemary (Rosemarinus) plant with carrots and cabbage, it repels most insects; sage (salvia) repels the cabbage moth; sunflowers (Helianthus) rids plants of aphids; Allium, plant near roses and tomatoes. These plants lure honey bees and other pollinators: Yarrow (Achillea), bee balm (Monarda), Aster, and Zinnia. Morning glories (Ipomoea) attract lady bugs and pollinators. Fire pink (Silene virginica) catches flies on its sticky stem and leaves. Cosmos attracts the praying mantis. Allium deters Japanese beetles, but don't plant close to beans and peas. And there you have it, simplified companion planting done by two little old Appalachian ladies during the 40's and 50's. They planted enough to feed the entire county, and none of it ever went to waste. They grew potatoes, corn, beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, peas, lettuce, onions, cabbage and every flower imaginable. I learned from reading what they left behind that all this interplanting is a very old gardening concept: planting a wide variety of things rather than a single crop. Another thing that I remember is that their crops were never in the same place from year to year. The lettuce bed with it's dancing spider plants moved from corner to corner in the gardens. Corn moved from the front to the back and then back again: crop rotation at its finest. I doubt they could have explained the reasons for success in a scientific format, but they knew what worked best to produce a fine crop. I am sad to say that I have never had a vegetable garden in my adult life. I have never had the space nor the inclination, unless I give up some of my flower beds, but I surely do get a craving sometimes. I can get a whiff of moldy earth and remember the cellar where jars upon jars of vegetables were stored. They dried beans on a string and hung them dangling on the screened in porch. These women who came before me were totally self reliant, but I am not sure that I am capable of survival in the ways they were. Perhaps if I were solely responsible for feeding myself and a family during the winter, I could call upon the legacy of knowledge that they left with me and hopefully we would all survive. Oh, by the way, I never did get warts. I think it was the asphidity bag that saved me. Happy Gardening to all of you. All photos are from Plant Files. A special thanks to the photographers: Toxicdendron, Gabrielle, Frostweed, and Sarahskeeper.
 | I am a retired high school art and humanities teacher. I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of southeast KY and now I live with my two rescued cats, Jazz and Daisy, in far western KY. I love daylilies and perennials, and thanks to my DG friends this year I am adding roses to my gardens.
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Subject: Sharing your stories
Posted by jasmerr (from Merrimac, WI) on May 13, 2008 at 12:44 PM:Shar,
I have been sharing your stories with my daughter this morning, and am going to send them to her two friends that have worked with CAP in Hager Hill, Ky.
I'm sure one of the friends could have used an asphidity bag recently. Seems she was out for a hike in the nearby woods and a deer tried to attack her - pawing the ground and bellowing. She had to climb up the mountain and find an alternate route home.
Jody ...
Subject: Thanks for the memories..
Posted by Pyewacketcat54 (from Fort Worth, TX) on May 6, 2008 at 5:15 PM:I too had older relatives that gardened when I was a kid, and I wish I had paid more attention to them than the critters....my Grandmama grew the most beautiful climbing roses,irises,and lilies.She was a true southern lady.
Your article is great, takes me back,and gives me needed information too.Thanks,Becki
Do you have a plant to keep the cats out of stuff? My Baxter is always trying to help,or eat things I am planting,watering or puttering with.LOL ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 6, 2008 at 5:30 PM: Hi, Pye...I love your name. I also just saw your post on Carol's thread. Thank you for that and for your great words about the article.
I have a bit of a problem with my cats too, but I have found they don't like certain herbs, basil comes to mind, also fennel. I am trying to plant a few of those seeds as well as some wild garlic in my flower beds. It worked for my inside plants, so i thought it was worth a try outside. We will see.
I don't remember that there was much of a problem with cats when I was growing up, just rabbits, but the wild garlic always kept them away from most things. My grandmother would plant a small bed of lettuce close to where the rabbits came into the garden, and that lettuce bed was just for them. The lettuce bed that we ate from was on another side of the garden. That worked too. She just kept on sprinkling seeds and the lettuce kept coming....so did the rabbits.
Thanks again, Becki.
Sharon ...
Subject: great information!
Posted by lizrainey (from San Mateo, CA) on May 5, 2008 at 9:20 AM:hi shar, as always absoluty enjoyed the reading
now after reading that now i know why some of my backyard plants are free of bugs! ...
Subject: Love it
Posted by herbalbetty (from Middleburgh, NY) on May 4, 2008 at 7:31 PM:Haha, that darned old asphidity bag to the rescue again. I am growing some this year for the first time. Shall I send you some? :-) ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 4, 2008 at 8:44 PM: Send it only if it smells wonderful!!!!
Thanks for reading. ...
Subject: Makes Perfect Sense!
Posted by Seedtosser1 (from Glenview, IL) on May 1, 2008 at 7:58 PM:Oh, Shar
I just love reading of your childhood.
Steve used to tell me all the time his grandmother planted vegitable in with her roses, Beans i think they were.
I would look at him like he was a little off. He said she grew a variety of plants in and around the vegtable gardens as well.
Thank you for yet another educatioanal and fun read!
And you know, of course the grin across my face picturing you stepping on the frog, hahha, yikes glad there were no worts to be found!
...Oh and I love the company in your spare room. What better company than truely wonderful memories.
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 1, 2008 at 8:05 PM: Thanks, Seed, you always make me feel good. ...
Subject: Companion Planting
Posted by Sundownr (from Wytheville, VA) on May 1, 2008 at 9:55 AM:I've always companion planted with veggies, a few herbs, and the marigolds and nasturtiums. I thought the other flowers my elders grew in and around the gardens were just to beautify, so I never gave them much thought. I should have known they had a more useful function. As you said, "there's always a reason!"
Thanks again for another good one!
Bev ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 1, 2008 at 1:08 PM: Thank you Sundownr.....most of my ancestors loved the flowers in the garden, and tended them just as well as they did the vegetables. It took me a long time to realize what they were really doing. ... Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on May 1, 2008 at 3:26 PM: How appropriate for the 1st of May, when everything is blooming or getting ready to bloom. I guess every country girl has memories: but you remember yours, Sharran!
Yes. thanks again for another good one!
gloria ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 1, 2008 at 6:04 PM: Gloria, thank you. ...
Subject: Happy May Day!
Posted by MistyPetals (from North Augusta, SC) on May 1, 2008 at 12:31 AM:How awesome! How inspiring! What a treat it is to read about your relative's insight, strength, self-reliance and determination again, Sharon. When I saw this headline, I was thrilled (as usual)!
Everything new under the sun isn't so new after all. I am going to commit the list of companion plants to memory.
Lovin' Your Work,
Misty ... Posted by Wvdaisy (from Buffalo, WV) on May 1, 2008 at 1:49 AM: Sharon, sure wish I had those memories and papers to go by. Am learning to raise a garden with my husband and we have lots to learn. Both our families raised gardens when we were young but not much of that information was retained with us. Thank goodness for DG and those of you willing to share your memories and experience!
Lana ... Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on May 1, 2008 at 6:36 AM: Another great article, Sharon. I love your style of writing and your memories are so wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, and their talents, with all of us. ... Posted by podster (from Deep East Texas, TX) on May 1, 2008 at 6:41 AM: I agree, thank you for sharing! Odd, how childhood memories are evoked from tastes, smells and sights for all of us. ... Posted by nanny_56 (from Putnam County, IN) on May 1, 2008 at 7:08 AM: My one grandma was always saying that too, 'always a reason'!
Beautiful article Sharon! ... Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on May 1, 2008 at 9:52 AM: I'm always grinning when I finish one of your articles, thank you so much. I'm happy you didn't get warts! ... Posted by plantladyhou (from Houston, TX) on May 1, 2008 at 9:55 AM: You paint beautiful word pictures. Thank you for your article.
Ann ... Posted by terriculture (from london
(United Kingdom)) on May 1, 2008 at 10:44 AM: Thankyou for such an enjoyable read! Your stories are always fun and interesting.
This message was edited May 1, 2008 3:44 PM ... Posted by davis1676 (from Disputanta, VA) on May 1, 2008 at 12:53 PM: Thanks so much for your beautiful article. It brought memories of my own childhood, with both grandmothers, who had the same love & respect for the land. I recall their work ethics as being very matter of factly, very this is how it is done type of thing. No compaining or not working, but still the happiest women I can recall. Thanks for bringing back that flood of wonderful memories for me. You inspire.
Blessings,
davis ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 1, 2008 at 1:06 PM: You all surely know how to brighten my day.
MistyPetals, it is always so good to hear from you.
Lana, I am sure you will do well, you have so much help available to you on DG.
Pirl, you always make me smile.
Podster, you anywhere near Orange, Texas? My late husband grew up there, lovely state.
Isn't that the truth, Nanny...."there's always a reason" along with "when you get a little older you will understand."
Me, too, Cathy....warts would have driven me out of the garden forever!
Ann, what a lovely comment. I hope I can continue to paint pictures with my words, that will be a challenge!
Thank you, Terri, I am so glad you like them.
So true, Davis, never a complaint or a harsh word. It was all a part of a bigger picture, and they knew that.
Y'all have given me smiles all morning.
Thank you
Sharon
... Posted by Bettypauze (from Victoria Harbour, ON) on May 1, 2008 at 4:37 PM: Shar, loved reading about your mom, grandmother and of course Aunt Bett..each and every time I read one of your articles, memories from my childhood (being raised by my grandparents) come flooding back...what great memories! ... Posted by MySharona (from Fernandina Beach, FL) on May 1, 2008 at 5:50 PM: Great story and it's chock full of information! Thank you for posting this article. I really enjoyed reading it. I learned a lot!
Glad you didn't get a wart! LOL!
Sharon ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 1, 2008 at 6:03 PM: Hi Betty and Sharon...I sure am glad I didn't get a wart, too.
Thank you both, glad you enjoyed.
Sharon ...
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