As we make our way around to the back of the house, we pass the sweetpeas climbing up the chicken wire under the kitchen window. I loved the way they grew so fast and came in so many hues. As I recall, the seeds were coated with some dye to indicate the color flower each plant would produce. I also got my first lesson in hereditary biology by learning that if you planted the seeds these produced you'd get only purple flowers.

It seemed to take forever for the ivy to finally cover the hillside. The clayey soil was block-like in structure and crumbled apart easily. Thus, the bare area back there was an irresistible target for my prying fingers. Another yelling-at offense.

Click here to zoom in on the sweetpeas.