Answer:
The garden, as a whole, is a metaphor for the growth and maturity of the characters. For Gonzalo, in particular, this means taking on some responsibility. Being the most fluent English speaker in his family, he has a lot on his plate.
This quote by Paul Fleischman is a great example of this novel: “[Community gardens] were oases in the urban landscape of fear, places where people could safely offer trust, helpfulness, charity, without need of an earthquake or hurricane...Community gardens are places where people rediscover not only generosity, but the pleasure of coming together. I salute all those who give their time and talents to rebuilding that sense of belonging.”
― Paul Fleischman, Seedfolks
