Remembering Gardens

I thought we’d do things a little bit differently for this carnival, since the majority of submissions came in the form of comments instead of blog posts. We did get two wonderful posts, so definitely check those out, but I thought you’d also enjoy reading “short form” carnival submissions…

An Aloe From Louise

Kathy of Native Gardener wrote a beautiful post about the aloe she received from her friend Louise. The roots of the plant she received eventually broke through the bottom of the container they were growing in and rooted the plant into the soil. I can’t help but think that there is something to be learned from that part of her story about the strength of the friendship between Kathy and Louise.

Memorial Gardens–Small & Large

Jessi of Garden Fowl wrote another really touching post, this one about creating a veterans memorial garden. Both of Jessi’s grandfathers were WWII vets. Unfortunately neither of them were able to see the beautiful space she created in their–and other war veterans’–honor.

Welcoming Rescued Mutts Into the Garden

I loved what Carol in AZ said about including the memory of her pet family in her garden: “…I commemorate the rescued mutts I have lost in my little desert garden with various rocks or horseshoes we have found together. Note that I also commemorate my mutts that are still with me the same way…”

Raised Beds As Large Containers?

Tom shared this sentiment about a garden he cares for with his wife: “This might be long and rambling, but… and it’s sorta container gardening related — raised beds are just really large containers, right? 

When my wife’s first husband passed away, her cottage garden became a memory garden of sorts, with gift plants from master gardeners, their friends, and the church community. To this day, every year, it gets a red geranium planted by Glenn’s bench. Since we’ve been married, we’ve sadly added or nourished along favorite plants of a close friend, my sister, and my wife’s Mom, all who have passed away in recent months and years.”

Carniverous Plants Make Interesting Plants for a Memorial Garden

I love that Paul Riddel was able to remember his grandma in a way that makes him (and me!) smile: “You’re going to laugh, but one of the big reasons why I raise carnivorous plants is to remember my maternal grandmother. This woman had no fear of man, beast, or god, and took no grief from same. She was also an exceptional painter and gardener, and I can’t look at a Sarracenia “Scarlet Belle” without thinking of how much fun she’d have had painting it. (In a strange way, too, her death in 2002 helped sprout my love for carnivores: I took a job in Tallahassee partly to have a quiet place to mourn for a while, and I became hooked on carnivores while I was there.) Between carnivores, cactus, Euphorbia, and exotic fruit trees (including my beloved Buddha’s Hand citron), I think I’ve done a better job of summing up her personality than any static memorial.”

Memorial Walking Trail

I thought this was a really nice idea that Cheryl and her best friend’s family came up with: “I just wanted to share that I lost my best friend in 2002 and in her honor, her family and I cleared a trail in the woods behind her parent’s house and created a ‘walk’. We planted flowers and placed little ornaments along the way that represented her and eventually after some time had passed, we all found some comfort on that walk.”