Hello!
Performing singer/songwriter, Carol Montag, here. I'm new to the collaborative and happy to be here! I will be writing about songwriting, performing, my experiences growing up in Ames, and my life here in Cedar Rapids. I expect this new experience will challenge me, grow me in new ways, and broaden my horizons as I connect with readers.
My father was an avid gardener. Every summer, he had multiple gardens spread throughout our 18 acres just east of the city of Ames. The summer he passed away, he had 150 tomato plants. Every year at end of summer, we helped my mother can tomatoes in Mason jars. We also harvested potatoes, corn, and cucumbers.
Like my father, I also enjoy gardening. I had a single garden at our previous home. It was a small garden compared to my father’s multiple gardens. I planted marigolds on the outer edges of my garden to keep away the rabbits, which, I learned, doesn’t really work. I recall pulling off marigold blossums in late summer to store in a paper bag over the winter. This gave me all the marigold seeds I needed for the coming spring.
On one occasion, my parents came to visit, and I recall my father bypassing the front door and heading straight for my garden. I was standing at the kitchen sink and looked out the window to see him there, surveying my greenthumb handiwork. I have a fond memory of him standing among tomato plants, taking the leaves between the palms of his hands, rubbing them together, and holding his palms to his face to cover his nose and mouth to take in a deep breath of the fragrant aroma of tomatoes.
This song may sound like a romantic love song, but it is really about missing my father, the master well-driller and gardener.
Winter's coming on Outside smells like cold Time to rake the lifeless leaves Time to dry the marigolds Soon my linden tree Will be skin and bones and bare I'll just turn my back to the window What do I care, what do I care There were sweet kisses in the summer's soft moonlight I will never forget you, I'll always regret you You'll be my marigold in winter all my life I got married young Just turned twenty-one The years keep turning out One by one And you cannot go back home You cannot return Of all the lessons in life This one I've learned, this one I've learned There were sweet kisses in the summer's soft moonlight I will never forget you, I'll always regret you You'll be my marigold in winter all my life
I’m excited to be a part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative and look forward to seeing where we go together on this journey. Feel free to subscribe to the Collaborative Roundup to receive weekly posts by my colleagues.
Welcome Carol! Zinnias are our family flower. Enjoyed this kind remembrance of your father.
Beautiful! Welcome to Substack!