I am called to the garden by recollections of the first ladies who influenced me.
Someone asked me why I love to talk about gardening, be in the garden, read garden catalogs, and even weed. That made me stop and ponder the question. I came up with a sentimental answer but an actual answer – “I am called to the garden ~ to the connection with the past, to this exact moment of calm beauty and the possibilities of growth”. I am called to the garden by recollections of the first ladies who influenced me. It soothes my soul and gives me peace.
All of this was quietly taught to me in my youth by ladies who took the time for a young child. Consequently, I have wonderful memories of time spent in the garden with these beautiful-soul ladies, who shared their love and knowledge of flowers, gardens, and friendship.
I’ll share some memories… (warning, the story is a bit long but has loving memories and a few heartfelt ponderings)
My Grandmothers, my first influencers…
My Grandmother Lucille
When I was a child, my Grandparents had extensive vegetable gardens with raspberry bushes, grape vines, and apple trees. When I was visiting, I would run through their gardens to grab a cherry tomato, a handful of raspberries, or an apple. Rub the dirt on my t-shirt and snack. The tomato would be warm and burst in my mouth; I still remember the taste. Above all, the memories of my Grandmother walking through the rows with her hoe are in my mind’s eye always. She’d smile and say, “That’s okay, you’re supposed to eat a bushel of dirt in your lifetime”. This same Grandmother, Lucille, especially loved pansies. She loved their painted faces. Oh, the smile she’d have looking at all the colors of faces as she planted them around the big tree by the side porch. Every year, I still grow a few pansies and think of her.
Another flower that was sentimental to her and my other Grandmother was their peonies; they both received ‘slips’ from their mother’s gardens. They were shades of pink, fuchsia, and white. And when I purchased my first home, they both gave me divisions of theirs- ‘ slips’ of them have moved with me to every house I’ve lived in since. I have since passed them on down. It is heartwarming to see them bloom and feel the ties across the generations.
*A little note ~ If you haven’t noticed yet, I am sentimental about peonies too ~ wink.
My Grandmother Elma
My other Grandmother, Elma, worked at a small town hospital. She was proud of her perennial border between the house and barn. (Today we would call it an ‘island bed’ since it was a spot in the yard and not bermed up.) At some point during every visit, she would take you there to show what was blooming proudly. One of her favorites that she adored was Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus). She’d cut them and share bouquets with others at the hospital. Honestly, I believe a dianthus in the garden or landscape is wonderful. The scent they have is heavenly. I plant many varieties in my garden. Therefore, every time I walk through a garden and catch its scent, I remember her walking softly in the breeze among her flowers as she got home from work.
The other Beautiful-Soul Ladies…
My ‘Great-Aunt’ Agnes, who lived across the street
When I was young and ran over to my Great-Aunt Agnes’ home, an honorary title but still in the heart as family. She’d have the window cracked to bring the heavenly scent into the kitchen. Then she would hand me a knife and a hammer. And instruct me to go cut bouquets from her lilac hedge. Then she’d be in front of me to say, “The only time to prune a lilac is when it is blooming. They bloom on last year’s growth, so go cut armfuls for all the neighbors and the church.” Now I wouldn’t understand “last year’s growth” for decades later but she was planting the seed.
You may be asking about “a Hammer?”. Well, her instructions were to pound the ends so they could drink water in the vase. I loved standing in that hedge with the aroma of lilacs and the buzz of bees, looking back, though – who would hand an 8-year-old a knife and say, “Go cut”? I never did cut myself, so maybe she knew what she was doing.
*Two Side Notes:
- She had planted a lilac hedge that she had carefully curated to include early blooming to late blooming and then white blooms to deep purple. With all her planning, she had an extended bloom time of her favorite flower without having to pick just one color.
- Lilacs bloom on the previous summer’s growth. If you prune them later in the summer, fall, or early spring before the leaves bud, you are cutting off the flowers.
Mrs. Jensen, who lived next door…
Lastly, the other gardener who showed me patience when I was young was our dear neighbor, Mrs. Jensen. She would be working in her garden on the other side of the wire fence in her day dress, apron, sensible heels (rain rubbers pulled over if damp), and hair tidy. Every spring, she paid close attention to pruning her prized ‘7-Sister’ climbing rose. The beauty of this heirloom is unequaled by the riot of rose-red flowers. And at the base of her trellis were spring-blooming primroses. These beautiful plum and gold flowers bloomed so consistently on May 1 in Michigan that she lovingly called them Mayflowers. I loved how she would always pause in her gardening to spend a moment with me, as if time stood still in the garden.
*Another Note – When I was planting flowers for my high school graduation open house in our yard, Mrs. Jensen gave me some ‘Mayflowers’. I also took a few ‘slips’ with me when I purchased my first home. The primroses are blooming now in April since I’ve moved to Kentucky. But I think I will still call them her Mayflowers.
How they shared their joy…
Through the catalogs & places visited…
Lastly, another enjoyment I learned from these ladies was reading nursery, plant, and bulb catalogs as they arrived in the mailbox. Oohing and ahhing over the new colors of gladiolus, the “dish plate” size of dahlias, and the latest variety of roses. Indeed, the ladies loved learning, growing, and exploring flowers. Each would take a moment over the years to take me to explore flowers and gardens: the County Fair Flower Show with gladiolus fanned out in large wicker baskets, the local Flower Club Floral Design Show, or a specialty garden full of herbs. Have you ever visited one of your local places? Please share below in the notes.
*A memory note of Grandmother Elma and my visit to the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon, during our last trip to see family. She was 88 and I was 40. We came home and ordered a couple of new varieties of roses we had seen there, creating a priceless memory. It’s a must-see if you’re ever near there.
Through shared bouquets, lessons were learned…
These ladies openly shared their joy of flowers and gardens with a young girl. So often, I would come home with a bouquet, its stems wrapped in wet cloth, and a mason jar with a tiny bit of water after visiting one of them. Looking back, they all had a secret smile on their face and a twinkle in their eyes as they gently taught me the beauty and grace of giving and growing flowers. Please take a moment to inspire someone younger to _______? (Fill in the blank with your passion.) Or spend time without someone older who could share their knowledge? These ladies gently taught me the true meaning of “to each one, teach one”.
This extended remembrance response is my answer to the question, “Why do you love to talk about gardening, be in the garden, read garden catalogs, and even weed?” I think of them as I grow with and in my garden. Similarly, I feel their presence beside me, guiding me. Thank you for allowing me to explain and reminisce about why I am drawn to the garden and my recollections of the first ladies who influenced me. As a result of this business, I want to share their gifts by teaching others the joy of gardening. Here is another blog discussing the benefits of keeping a gardening journal that you may find interesting; it includes a free PDF. If you’d like to explore flowers, plants, and gardens further, please join me in my private Facebook group. Or sign up for our weekly newsletter for seasonal ideas. Or if you’d like to know when I post a new blog, please sign up below to be notified.
Here is the short version of why I am called to the garden by recollections of the first beautiful-souled ladies who influenced me and the lessons I learned:
- Pansies have faces, and it takes a pause to see them.
- Peonies and lilacs need to be sheared and shared so they can grow stronger both for the plant and in friendship.
- A scent can take you back quickly to a specific moment and time.
- There is outstanding beauty in flowers wrapped in a damp cloth in a mason jar with a titch of water.
- Sharing ‘slips’ of plants can transcend generations.
- That we are never too young or old to explore new ideas, places, and plants.
- Each of us has the power to inspire a child by gently taking a moment of time.
- Life is beautiful when we cultivate friendships through the generations.
Thank you for staying with me through my reminisce. I would love to hear your stories, too. Please leave a message below. Sending you flowers and warm wishes, Bobbi
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