Some plants arrive with more spirit than we expect, and Theo was one of them. He pushed up far too early, braved the winter cold, and grew into a bold, towering presence in my garden — a true Romeo among the flowers. His season was brief but wholehearted, rising from a tiny seedling to a generous summer giant before gently returning to the earth.
The photos below trace his small but memorable journey, followed by a poem and a quiet Damien Rice song that felt just right for his farewell.
Theo is transplanted from the gravel path into my large planter box. (early June)
When I came back from my trip to Canada, on September 23rd, Theo was indeed looking very sick, and we thought he mightn’t survive …
But during the spring weather of October and November, Theo did thrive …
With flowers and fruit by the end of December …
Yes, Frankie, we spotted red tomatoes in early January …
Early March, and Theo’s crop of fruit has not been large, mainly due to his premature birth and my 4-week absence in Canada, but we are very proud of Theo’s effort to be one of nature’s providers …
Theo, My Garden’s Romeo
From little things, big things grow –
a tiny seedling in the snow.
So brazen and bold,
he survived the winter cold
A time-defying green tower,
with serendipitous spring flowers
and summer fruit for my garden dell –
Theo’s life was wildly swell.
Then, prematurely – like his birth –
his wilted girth
slowly began to return to the earth
Ivor Steven © March 2026
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 
A lovely tribute to a bold and brave tomato plant.. who came to soon and left too early.
lovely choice of song too 💜💜
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Thank you so much for your very lovely words . Willow … it’s been a fascinating project to write about Theo’s somewhat unique journey 🍅❤️💕
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Bless him 🙏
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Did you save any of his seeds to propagate next summer?
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Not yet, and it’s a process I’ve not done before 🍅
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A very cheery post, Ivor. It is a heroic story of rescue and brave survival, and I enjoyed it very much! 🍅 🍅 🍅
You made me remember my own cherry tomato experience from many years ago. When the tulips in my flower bed were finished blooming, I squeezed cherry tomato seeds over the soil. The vines filled the flowerbed, and we had cherry tomatoes on our salads for weeks!
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Thank you for your lovely story, Cheryl … gardening is indeed a lovely and pleasurable activity 🥰💕
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Wonderful! Nothing like the scent of homegrown tomatoes. 🍅
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Thank you kindly, Michele, I love gardening and nurturing Theo along has been a unique experience for me 🥰🍅
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You’re doing great! 😊
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Beautiful garden. So fresh tomatoes
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Thank you, not many, but they are delicious 🍅🥰
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Have you saved some seeds?
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Not yet, but I might give it a try …
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Theo! A warrior in the garden! 🥰🪴🍅☀️😍
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Nurturing Theo along the way has been a wonderfully unique project to write about my friend 🍅🥰🌏🌞🤗📖
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It’s been a great pleasure to share in that experience with you, my friend 🥰
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It seems a lot of my readers also enjoyed “Theo’s” adventurous journey, Nancy 📖🥰🍅
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Of course they did! You and Frankie are well loved, my dear friend. 🥰
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I Love this, Ivor. Theo is just like us. He needs someone to be there and look out for our wellbeing!
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I hope next year he makes another appearance
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I’ll see if I grow a new ‘Theo’ from one his seeds 🥰🍅
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We will see him again.
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it’s because of how he survived the winter cold, how he’d, broke through the soil despite it is still winter, that’s made him, stronger than the, rest, and he will surely, flourish, and produce the fruits sweeter than the rest of your garden for sure!
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