I went to visit a friend this morning and she showed off her own backyard garden. She lives in Queens and this garden seriously has so many varieties of plants you’d think we were in upstate NY. And for good reason, her mother and father are seasoned farmers, originally from Italy! After coming here, they did have a farm upstate where they even made wine on their premises. Now, her 80+, lovely and healthy mom still continues planting and gardening with skill and the same zest she has always had. She even dries the seeds of her plants to replant the next year without having to buy new seeds, she uses what the plants produce. She also cans tons of what she produces, especially tomatoes which she turns into sauces to use all Winter! Jealous you don’t have a mom as talented as her right ?! Here’s a look at some of the plants in her garden:

Blackberries:

Sage, basil, Thai basil

”Elephant ears,“ decorative plant

Fig trees, yum!

Many varieties of decorative flowering plants ...

Tomatoes !