Gardens of Love
My daughter messaged this morning to show me the plants she had gotten over the weekend for her garden. I was immediately flooded with the warm emotions associated with legacy moments.
Traditionally, every year the week before Mother’s Day I would spend weeding and preparing the gardens for new plants. Then the day before Mother’s Day my girls and I would shop for plants. They were permitted to choose any plants they wanted. Then for Mother’s Day they would give me the gift of time and we would spend the entire day planting. I had the most beautiful garden in the world, as it was filled with pure and simple love. I’m sure it felt like a chore to the girls but to me it was perfection.
Many of the plants have survived the years – the hydrangea stands tall in the back corner, the blue blossoms growing more amazing every year. The azalea needed to be transplanted when we moved the fence in the backyard. The men that were transplanting it as I had in no uncertain termed let them know what it signified to me. When they went to move it the root ball broke into 4 pieces. They planted all 4 pieces and all 4 survived and flourished. There are hostas, lilies and irises around the yard that represent so many years of giving.
It is this giving of love and time that made this garden so beautiful. I had a professional look at the garden to add some shrubbery for privacy – the first thing she wanted to do was rip out all that was there. I let her know in no uncertain terms that was not an option. Gardens that represent so much love are always beautiful.
This morning as my daughter shared her new gardens with me, I not only reflected on the joy I’ve received from my gardens, but thought back on the many hours spent working in my mother’s garden with her. She taught me so much about gardening. Many of the plants I choose for my garden are the ones she had in hers. The hydrangea, the lilies, and the irises – all remind me of growing up. A friend has offered me some lily-of-the-valley. I’m looking forward to adding it to the garden as it was one of my mother’s favorites.
Flowers are one of life’s simplest pleasures. Everyone seems to have a favorite. Recently, I realized I didn’t know my younger daughters favorite. Turns out – sunflowers – as she had such delightful memories of when we planted them in our garden. I am so touched to pass the legacy of gardening and the joy of flowers to my daughters as my mother had passed it to me.
