How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
It was a power failure.
[…] "Whole city shuts down, but the garden just keeps going," Leona said. She talked on, how plants don't run on electricity or clock time, how none of nature did. How nature ran on sunlight and rain and the seasons, and how I was part of that system. (11.7-8)
According to Maricela, Leona has some pretty cool things to say about time. So let's break down Leona's theory. She says there are two kinds of time. First, there's "clock time." Since Leona mentions electricity, we're thinking she means that "clock time" relies on machines like alarm clocks and timers. And Leona says plants just don't keep track of time this way. Instead, plants run on the second type of time, which is based on the seasons. Seasonal time isn't necessarily the same as "clock time"—after all, plants aren't going to listen to alarm clocks; they're going to listen to the sun. We have to admit, if running on "clock time" means we have to wake up to a 6:00AM alarm but the sun doesn't wake us up until 9:00am, well we're thinking the sun might just be the winner.
Quote #8
It was beautiful weather, sunny but not hot. Fall was just beginning and the garden was changing from green to brown. Those of us who had come to work felt the party's spirit enter us. The smell of the roasting pig drifted out and called to everyone, gardeners or not. Soon the entire garden was filled.
It was a harvest festival, like those in India, though no one had planned it to be. (12.7-8)
Time sure is flying by in this garden. We've gone from spring to summer and now it's turning into fall. Check out how Amir dubs the impromptu fall party they're having a "harvest festival." Makes sense, since harvest (a.k.a. gathering the grown fruits and veggies) normally happens in the fall once the weather cools down.
Quote #9
That winter was a cold one. Cold as Colorado. You'd walk by the garden, covered with snow, just the fence tops sticking out, and you'd try to remember it back in July. Someone stuck a Christmas tree there in December. It stayed up until March. It's hard to tell one month from another that time of year. It's all just winter. Because of the weather I missed lots of walks. When I did get out, I couldn't go past the garden without slowing down to look, even though there was nothing growing. (13.6)
It's wintertime in Cleveland, and that means no more plants in the community garden. Florence seems pretty bummed about it, especially since winter is extra long in Cleveland.