Today is Mother's Day, May 11, 2008 and it is also the birth of Gemma's Garden

Today is the birth of my second venture into the "blogosphere," I call it Gemma's Garden, named after my mother. The word "blogosphere," is one of those "births" that happens to describe something that previously did not exist. I did not exist until my mother brought me into this world. She didn't have any idea, in retrospect, about this "blogosphere." But I assure you she knew plenty about gardens.

Her name was Gemma and she born on April 18, 1925 in an area of Italy called Calabria. Her birthplace was known as "Marano Principato, province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy." And she was a gardener. And a serious gardener at that. In America they would call them farmers. She was a farmer.

I was born on March 3, 1953 in an Italian-American area of Chicago called "Taylor Street," that is today one of Chicago's trendy communities. My mother was close enough to the hospital to walk there from her home near Taylor and Racine. My father was at work on West Harrison Street and was a short bus ride away. They didn't own a car at the time. Our address was 912 Garibaldi. The street was named after an Italian military and political leader named Giuseppe Garibaldi.

I could go on and on about this, but the point is I want to dedicate this "gardening blog" to my mother, Gemma, who loved to tend to the garden and in Italy, loved to tend to the farm. I will continue this story tomorrow, but today I will be celebrating Mother's Day with "Ma," Michelle's mother. She is a wonderful mother with six children and lots of grandchildren and they are the center of her life.

I knew my mother as "Mama." Her grandchildren called her "Nonna." I will tell you more about my mother, Gemma, who I named this blog after because of her love of gardening. The reason for this blog is to promote gardening. I will promote the 21st Annual Morgan Park/Beverly Hills Garden Walk, give gardening tips, suggest gardening books, discuss the beauty of gardening and plants.

But for now take this opportunity to tell us about your mother or perhaps your love of gardening. And come join me in this venture.

If you have an interest in writing or "blogging" about gardening, please tell me why by emailing me at readingonwalden@att.net or calling me at 773-233-7633. Reading on Walden Bookstore.