a bean teepee, wildflowers, and the roots of family tradition

When I step into my backyard, I see more than just a garden—I see my grandpa’s hands in every corner. This spring, he built a bean teepee just like the ones he remembered from his own childhood on the prairies. He planted wildflowers all around it, saying they’d attract bees and remind him of his mother’s garden. Watching him work, I felt a deep connection to the past, but I also noticed how different his approach is from what I see online today. Grandpa refuses to use plastic trellises or store-bought fertilizers—he says the earth knows best, and that’s how he’s always done it. Meanwhile, my neighbors argue that modern gardening apps and raised beds are the way forward, especially with our unpredictable Midwest weather and shorter growing seasons. There’s a quiet tension in our community: some folks admire Grandpa’s old-school methods, while others roll their eyes, calling it outdated and inefficient. But every time I see a child ducking into the teepee, or a butterfly landing on the wildflowers, I wonder—are we losing something precious in our rush for convenience? Or is it time to let go of nostalgia and embrace new ways? As summer storms roll in and the wildflowers sway, I find myself torn between tradition and innovation. Do we cling to the gardens of our memories, or do we adapt to the changing world around us? I’d love to hear how others in our region are balancing these choices. Does your family garden look more like Grandpa’s, or have you gone high-tech? #familygardening #traditionvsinnovation #midwestgardens #Gardening