Keeping up with the forebears

Does your family have any shared characteristics? Things that you just can't deny regardless of how hard you try? Mine does. Not only are we probably the most un-typical looking English people you're ever likely to meet, we also have an seemingly inescapable pull towards all things horticultural, let me explain...

Way back in 2005 when IBM started their amazing Genographic Project, I was fortunate enough to visit their innovation labs so decided I'd take the test to see what emerged in my DNA. As it happens I'm descended from a people group who left Africa fairly early and moved upwards into Europe where they became some of the early farmers and agriculturalists. Hmmmm interesting.

My great grandfather Charles Haddock (the dapper looking chap sandwiched between the monkey puzzle tree and the tulips in the photo above) was a head gardener and travelled extensively across England and Ireland tending gardens for the rich and famous in large country houses of his day. Apparently was very good at it.

My parents have always been incredible gardeners. I was raised with a garden of gorgeous flowers and vegetables that I largely ignored whilst rushing about in the heady oblivion of childhood. For me back then, gardening was boring (insert enormous eye-roll) and it was only when I bought my own house in Minnesota and started gardening myself, that I fully realized what an enormous labor of love my childhood environment had been. At 85 and 90 respectively, my Mum & Dad are still gardening fiends and whatever the season, they always have colorful plants blooming and grand visions of what's coming next. It's a beautiful thing.

Over the years my appreciation for the natural world has taken on a life of its own. I am awestruck by the everyday beauty of the world around us, especially in Minnesota where plants fight so hard to survive in our extremely cold winters then burst into life so enthusiastically when the weather finally heats up in the spring.

This year, in an effort to keep up with my awesome agricultural ancestors I've become an intern with University of Minnesota's extension master gardener program, where after an intensive year of classroom training at the beautiful Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and 50 hours of volunteering hopefully I'll become a 'master gardener' and have a better chance of keeping up with my Master Gardener forebears!

Does your family have any shared traits or hand-me-down vocations? How are these influencing your life and work? I'd love to hear your experiences and stories.