Celestial Gardening Summary

Early in the winter, the seed capsules are ready to be sent from launch pads located all over the world. All this is a grand plan in the hope of generating a Martian biosphere. In March, Tyler gets a call from Carol saying that his mother suffered a severe stroke and the doctors hold little hope for a recovery. He finds a replacement for himself and flies to the George Washington University Hospital, where he is greeted by Carol. Tyler sees his mother unconscious; Carol asserts that Belinda Dupree was the Lawtons' house pillar. E.D. joins them later that evening and offers his somehow premature condolences. Tyler browses through a box of old letters from his father Marcus to his mother but is overwhelmed by emotions and has to stop reading quickly.

Diane joins them in the morning, only to...