The garden that Térèse plants in the yard of the apartment complex where she and Adina live is a symbol of growth, change, and community. In the beginning, the garden is Térèse's attempt to build something that involves life, nurturance, and sustenance; she feels this need after a romantic disappointment, when she learns that Mark, the man she was dating, is married. The garden becomes a place where Térèse hopes to expend her energies that can be rewarding and ultimately nourishing, not just for her but for other dwellers of the complex.

In contrast to Adina, who keeps her eyes on space, looking for information about where she is from, Térèse’s interest in the garden reflects her more practical and earthbound nature. The effort to build the garden, as well as the financial investment, is a risk; it might turn out to be yet another disappointment. However, over the course of the novel, as Adina matures, moves away, and returns for visits, the garden expands and flourishes much the same way that Térèse does. Térèse returns to her education, eventually getting a master’s degree and a promotion that makes her financially stable for the first time. The ever-growing, prosperous garden reflects the fruits of Térèse’s efforts in other ways.