FEATURE
IN THE GARDEN
Children ’ s gardening book inspires love of growing things
Story by Monique Harrison Henderson Contributing Writer
Photos by Terrell Clark
A
children ’ s book by HGTV star Joanna Gaines inspired Lottie Cowsert to start gardening when she was just six years old .
Lottie read the picture book “ We are the Gardeners ” with her parents and younger brother , Charlie , and soon became consumed with the idea of planting a garden in the family ’ s backyard .
“ Honestly , they read the book and almost immediately started saying they wanted to plant a garden ,” Lottie ’ s dad , the Rev . Chip Cowsert , recalled . “ The first few times they said it , I did not say much , but then , they really stayed with it . They kept asking and asking , and I started thinking that maybe this was something we could actually do . It really only took a few trips to the hardware store to get things going .”
Lottie started the garden during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic , when many people were sheltering in place at home to avoid spreading the virus .
“ We were happy for her to have another hobby they could do from home and it was a fun way for Lottie to enjoy the outdoors and have something to work on ,” the Rev . Cowsert said .
Lottie said gardening definitely isn ’ t easy , but it ’ s something she enjoys .
20 • MERIDIAN LIFE