The parsnips grew back

The parsnips grew back!

And I cried....

After the snow melted and the weeds started coming up in my vegetable garden, I swear they are waiting for me under the snow, I realized something! I forgot to dig up my parsnips in the fall. What a shame, I love parsnips. They look like white carrots, but have a much milder and nuttier flavor. 

They can be eaten in many forms, raw, boiled, baked, sauteed, mashed and buttered, or cut into fries. 

Parsnips are a forgotten veggie but they are so good for you and taste amazing. Did you know???? 

Parsnips have a high vitamin C content.

They help improve digestive function and prevent constipation thanks to a high fiber load.

They contain folate, good for all but especially important for pregnant mamas.

Help aid heart health.

Also these roots support enzyme production and bone health. The manganese on parsnips helps produce enzymes needed for production of cartilage and bone. 

WOW. 

these humble, tasty little roots do so much.

Anyways,  back to my garden, the parsnips decided to come back! I did a little research and left in the ground, they will regrow the second year and produce flowers and seeds.

I decided to weed around them and let them stay, just to see what they look like in bloom. As I was working a wave of grief came over me....the hand rake I was using had been my dad's , and I remembered why I forgot the parsnips in fall.

You see, at the end of August last year, my dad lost his lifelong battle with alcohol. I was sent into a grieving process that I was not prepared for. He died suddenly at age 59. My brother and I had no warning. When I was a child, he was wonderful, happy, fun, nature loving and adventure finding. I have his eyes, hair and sense of humor. In my adult life, I did not have him, as he started drinking and living in a way I couldn't handle watching. I removed myself from his life. He didn't chase me. Now he's gone and there is no tomorrow or maybe next time for us. 

I didn't allow myself to feel all of the pain I needed to at the time so now it comes in odd ways. So there I sat, in the dirt, with dads rake, and my weeds. And I cried. It hurts my heart, it will always. I can take this kind of mourning, a little at a time. Little reminders tugging at my heart. Thanks for the rake Dad, mine was broken.

I moved a few of the parsnips to different parts of the yard because I found out a few other things..

Parsnip blooms look like yellow dill and are beneficial in the garden to attract pollinators. 

Hoverflies and lace wing also like them. Guess what hoverflies eat??? APHIDS!!!

Praise Jesus my roses are saved. And poison free too! 

Try growing or maybe just eating some parsnips, you will not be sorry! My fave is sliced and roasted in butter with pink salt.

See you next time-joy