Moms .... and friendships
Happy mothers day everyone!
When we moved into this unit I thought it would be simply marvellous to have someone come in and mow my lawn regularly. Of course when we moved in there was just a lychee tree and lots of lawn. I slowly encroached on the lawn until there was essentially just a lawn path remaining. Two things that grass does not like is to be walked on and to have too much shade. As you know from my last vegie patch update there is no longer lawn out in the back.
Look at what I have done to the side garden.
I moved the swing back to where it was originally and now we have a nice clear path to walk around.
I originally thought of having a stone path through the middle of the side garden, but then I thought if I made a little "meadow" of grass that nobody walked on we might still be able to have our patch of green. Small enough to keep perfectly trimmed with hedge shears!
My little sheep can nibble on it, but no more gardeners with their heavy hand digging into the edges. (My granddaughter whispered to me that those sheep wouldn't eat the grass because they were not real! I think she sometimes wonders about her grandmothers sanity :) )
One of my dear friends and her Mom (who was like another Mom to me growing up) sent me some money to purchase some plants as a living memorial to my Mom. I had already planted this strelitzia among the bromeliads outside our bedroom window, and then I bought a lemon tree, as my Mom always had a lemon tree, and an olive tree because I needed something in the pot with the Rosemary (my Moms name was Rosemary). I am a good shopper and stretched that money to its limit, (Mom would have been proud)
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.
Another blogger firend fo mine, Carolyn, at This Grandmothers Garden, has planted a rosebush at the birth of each grandchild. Has anyone else planted a specific plant in memory or recognition of a loved one?
When we moved into this unit I thought it would be simply marvellous to have someone come in and mow my lawn regularly. Of course when we moved in there was just a lychee tree and lots of lawn. I slowly encroached on the lawn until there was essentially just a lawn path remaining. Two things that grass does not like is to be walked on and to have too much shade. As you know from my last vegie patch update there is no longer lawn out in the back.
Look at what I have done to the side garden.
I originally thought of having a stone path through the middle of the side garden, but then I thought if I made a little "meadow" of grass that nobody walked on we might still be able to have our patch of green. Small enough to keep perfectly trimmed with hedge shears!
Now everywhere I look there are little reminders of that shopping trip, and Moms, and friendships. I think this little quote says it all.
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.
What a lovely spot, Rosemary's Garden. The sheep are precious.
ReplyDeleteHow times change. It used to be that children had big imaginations and pretended -- we said, 'Play Like' -- and our livestock were discarded fireplace andirons. Now grandmothers pretend and children are literally adult about everything.
Jean,
DeleteSo true, I love to incite their imaginations, so much is laid on a plate for little kids these days.
I haven't planted in honor of remembering folks but it's a lovely idea. I should seriously consider doing that!
ReplyDeleteLeigh,
DeleteIt sure is - I think in future I would much prefer to send someone a living plant than a flower arrangement.
Of course those sheep nibble on the grass! Why wouldn't they??
ReplyDeleteYes, I did planted something for my parents. My mother loved peonies and I planted two of them for her, and my Dad who passed away in February loved French lilac. When my friend brought me a lilac without knowing this, I planted it in my Dad's memory. It is so nice to have something in my garden that they both loved.
Carola,
DeleteOh those are both plants that sound awesome - I could never grow them here. My Dad used to grow awesome roses, but sadly they dont like this humid climate. It gives me a lovely feeling of peace when I tend to these plants.
Almost, we have a quince tree taken from a cutting in my grandfather's orchard many years ago and a cutting from my husband's grandfather's rose bush ...now fondly called 'Grandad's quince' and Johnny's Rose'. I take great comfort in the fact that something that these two lovely men nutured is now in my garden living on. Gardens are all about life and I think it fitting that we remember lives through plants.
ReplyDeleteHaven't forgotten about your seeds ... I just have to get time - lots of farm stay visitors!
Kim,
DeleteIt looks as though what I have done is not that unusual, and I love hearing about the stories other people have of their plants. Have your cordelines sprouted? No problems - I am glad you are busy - the photos you posted on facebook are awesome.
Getting rid of the little stripe of lawn in my backyard has also been an idea of mine for a while. Yours looks so nice, maybe I should just do it. The grass definitely doesn't like being treated as a "path" to access my backyard vegetable patch! I love the quote as well... so true. I can never understand people who garden with gloves
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week
Louis,
DeleteYes I think there are some trypes of grass that are hardly enough, but mine certainly is not. I have been really happy the way mine turned out - I didnt want it to look sterile, and took a leap of faith and now am happy. Actually I just discovered some gloves that I love and am wearing gloves for the first time ever. They are quite thin with a rubbery palm. Had to have full disclosure that I am now a glove wearing gardener!
Yes we have - we planted a birch for my late father, but sadly the house is now sold and the tree with it! I did not plant a new tree for my deceased mom, but I did manage to 'save' a tree she had planted and loved very much. It is a flowering cherry tree. The builder wanted to remove it when they enlarged the garage, but I persuaded them that we must save the tree and it is still there....can't wait to see it's beautiful blooms this next spring! (It flowers around the date o my mom's birthday, 4 October.
ReplyDeleteBrigitte,
Deletehello! Welcome :) How awesome that the tree flowers on your Moms birthday! I am sure builders often get frustrated about the precious plants they have to build around!
I worked this morning out in our gardens here and thought of you and your wonderful yard. I'm working on getting rid of all the grass here as well. Summer is so very hot and humid. The less grass to mow the better. Your yard is looking beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLinda, thank you. I dont know why we all have this fixation with so much grass, it really is a big bother most of the time..... My garden is always evolving as I have new ideas. I told my hubby he is lucky as I could be moving the furniture inside :)
DeleteI think your granddaughter has a wonderful, fascinating grandmother, full of surprises (sheep on a tiny, tiny lawn). My grandmother had a rose garden and she would cut blooms just as they were opening and put them in her fridge so she always had a lovely gift for any visitors. I still have plants that came from her garden ( not roses but hardier plants) and I love to be reminded of her when I see them.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny,
DeleteGrandchildren are a total delight. What an awesome idea to have flowers handy for visitors - I do so wish I lived in a time when visitors would just pop in unexpectedly. We had that growing up but things change.
Such cute sheep, of course they will keep the grass down.
ReplyDeleteDeb,
Deletethey were on the clearance rack, and I knew I had to find a home for them somewhere.
I am glad you enjoyed my blog post this week. I will add your blog to my blog roll so I visit your blog more often.
ReplyDeleteMy Mum's garden had a ferny patch in it. I told my nieces that when they walked thru the ferny patch they became fairies ... and remained so until noon. When mum died one of their first concerns was "we won't become fairies any more!" to it was a high priority to have a ferny patch in my garden.
There is so much in my garden that makes me think of dear family and friends. I am so glad you have lovely reminders in yours too.
Joan,
Deletethanks for visiting, and I hope you enjoy following along. Oh I love the story of your ferny patch! So glad that you continued on with it. Yes I also look at passalong plants and remember where they originated from.
I laughed at your granddaughter's response to the sheep eating the grass! I love that you planted plants in memory of your mother. I did the same. My mother's name was Annabelle, and now I have several 'Annabelle' hydrangeas in her memory. I always think of her when I see them. I also totally agree with the Alfred Austin quote!
ReplyDeleteDeb,
Deletethanks for sharing your story, unfortunately my Rosemary was struggling and I think has given up, it is so difficult to grow here.
I did quite a bit of re-landscaping after my mum passed, but I kept all the hybrid crotons that she loved so much along the side of the house .I may have to borrow those cute sheep from you to keep my grass under control. Where do I sign up?
ReplyDeleteVirginia,
DeleteOh crotons are lovely - I sometimes forget about them since they are such a low care plant. Well now we will just have to see how well they do before I start farming them out.
I love those sheep! They look so sweet and contented :)
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about gardens is that you can keep changing them around and never get bored, isn't it?
Sunita,
DeleteI know! just a few little additons here and there and I am happy and contented.