Before starting this post I would like to highlight a very special friend, Derrick, who along with his wonderful wife Jackie tend to one amazing garden! This is one of my favorite bloggers who has a garden that is expansive, varied and gorgeous!
If You Weren’t The Head Gardener
Around five years ago we made our usual late Spring visit to the lake. Mom was busy digging, weeding and moving plants. At that time she offered me “starts” of many of her hearty favorites, some having been there for over 20 years! I hemmed and hawed as the saying goes, until she grabbed the shovel and loosened the soil.
Hours later we backed up the gravel drive and headed home, complete with numerous specimens that wilted in the scorching heat. I have to admit I was iffy and irritated at the thought of digging up grass, finding an area to place these plants and was not looking forward to gardening.
I went through the motions and did the hard work and felt a bit better but still wondered why she had pushed me to take these pieces of her garden. At first it looked like a wasted effort as each plant lay drooping on a scattered makeshift bed. That summer it was all about keeping everything watered and alive. Lake roses looked to be rigid, brittle and brown, and yet something compelled me to keep watering and watching.
The following Spring plants were green and some even bloomed! Eventually more space was needed as roses started to flourish infringing on neighboring plants. Rocks and bark were added along with special items from the recently vacated wood house.
A brick from the brickyard where Daddy ( my grandpa Adolph) had worked for years was given to me to place near the purple Iris. This was his favorite plant and when he retired he was given three bricks, one for each of his daughters.
The bird bath that stood in the “dream garden” for many years was now placed lovingly alongside Lilies and Columbine. Each year there were new additions, taking plants from Mom’s garden, moving some to other locations if they were not doing well. I learned which ones needed more or less water, sun or shade and was careful when cleaning up debris. It is fun to look back and to see that hard work and patience paid off.
Mom says I have a green thumb and while I am not convinced of that, what I do know is that gardening reminds me in many ways of tending to my family. Patience, room to grow and plenty of care.
Love home gardens!
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Me too!
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A wise Mom; a good post; and many thanks for the link
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I love your garden derrick!
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🙂
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A green thumb in USA, green fingers in UK. I think you have a whole 2 hands worth of green Lynn!
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xxx
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Your garden looks lovely!
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You are so kind. It has been very therapeutic!
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I bet it has.
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Derrick and Jackie’s garden is heavenly and you are right to have linked to his blog for it turns out that your own garden is also an absolute delight. I echo what you say about gardening and rearing children. When I was bringing mine up I didn’t have much time for a garden – we did a little together … a veggie patch and growing annuals from seed but we moved so often that it was not viable to make a garden. But now that they are grown and flown I find myself really enjoying gardening – it is nurturing just the same. And when they visit, well then they get the joy (!) of helping me too xoxo
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Yes I agree Fiona! It is very nurturing! xoxo Hope all is well dear
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Lynn, all is as it is and reading your joyful accounts of preparations and home life are just what I need in my slightly less than bouncy status quo. Which is passing. But slowly 😊
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You do have a green thumb. How beautiful! I like being outside and gardening, but… my results are quite so photogenic as yours. Lovely, Lynn.
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I never thought anything would come back to life haha and the roses were literally these hard sticks. My son kept asking me to dig them up and toss them out. Each year they have gotten bigger and now there is no stopping them. xo Thanks Diana
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What a heritage your mom has passed down to you, Lynn! Your garden has grown and flourished, as have your children! It is delightful hearing and seeing both of them. xoxo
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Thank you so much xxx
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How beautiful! Watching home gardens brings back fond memories. Thanks for sharing!
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They’ve got a great garden!! Sometimes I want to grow a garden…but I don’t like to weed! :O
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Weeding is no fun but now I am not as picky! I was super careful but now I do what I like!
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A lovely story, and your wise Mom realized that the efforts of a garden could bring new focus – along with fond memories.
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That is so true! She sure is wise
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Great job Lynz. Gardens look great. Nice that you mention Derrick a d Jackie’s garden as well. Appreciate the hard work
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Thanks Gary!
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You seem to feel the plants. it looks so beautiful, Lynn!!
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xoxo
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💖
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Gardening does teach us patience! And yours has been rewarded. (K)
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You are so right K! xx
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LOVELY!
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Thanks Colleen!
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I think it’s in your blood Lynn. Your garden looks lovely.
Leslie ❤
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Thanks Leslie that is so nice of you to say xxx
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Gardening can be frustrating sometimes. It’s so nice when something fits in, grows well and blooms.
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lovely
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Thanks Jodi
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A wise mom and reminds me of my mom. She would nudge me into projects, such as your garden, and when the plants and flowers flourished, she told me I should be proud of my accomplishments, which I was.
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Yes wise indeed!
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Beautiful garden, Lynn! You do have a green thumb!
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You are so kind dear PJ xoxo
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xoxox
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Beautiful plants that continue your family heritage. Your thumb is green.
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Thanks so much Ina!
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Your efforts are always rewarded with a garden. And there’s nothing better than standing back with a cup of tea and admiring the results.
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Such a good idea!
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This beautiful. Great work indeed. What a contribution to beautify the world!
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Thank you!!
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You are welcome!
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Beautiful work in the garden Lyn!! I am waiting patiently for my block to be ready so I can get on there and start planting. I have plants that will have to bide their time in pots, until our next winter before I can get them in the ground. At least it will give me time to prepare the soil and try them out in different spots before selecting the final positions.
That Iris is spectacular!!! And the hot pink flower is gorgeous!!
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Wow sounds good!
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