Letting the Garden Grow

There's an open space in the center of Charlie's school, bounded on all four sides by low-slung hallways in beige stucco. There's a garden there or, that is, there will be a garden there as spring progresses into summer: Friday, Charlie and his classmates spent some time in the sun pulling weeds and Charlie, for one, quite took to it.

Working outside and, too, with growing things and dirt: Somehow I think there's something in this for Charlie. Dirt that's crumbly or fine, or gooey-sticky when it's mud; the wispy lightness of blades of grass; prickles from pinecones; crackling leaves, bugs, slugs, earthworms. Outside is an automatic "sensory center." Am not sure where these first horticultural ventures of Charlie's will go; am thinking these could point to a future interest and activity for him, and perhaps even work.

In the Baptist Press, Richard Nations writes about his son, Philip, who has a job as a horticulturalist in the parks department of Windsor Heights, Iowa. Philip, who was diagnosed at the age of 5 with Asperger's Syndrome, just graduated from Des Moines Area Community College on May 7:

Philip started his horticulture career a few weeks ago when he landed a job in the parks department of Windsor Heights, Iowa. It was his ninth interview of a two-month job search. Job interviews were excruciatingly hard for Philip. He is known among city employees as the nice young man who takes care of the flower beds and quietly works hard all day long in the park. He has a set of friends he communicates with on the Internet and he is so proud of his college accomplishments. And Rachel and I are just a little bit proud also!

Philip graduated with a 3.5 GPA.

Congratulations and thanks to Philip, and to his father, for sharing their family's story. It is (sorry for the pun, I can't resist) planting a seed in our thoughts for Charlie's future.