Making Memories with Flower Gardening

Flower gardening is not only about the present, but can be about the past as well. Although this article is ostensibly about flower gardens, it is really more about carrying memories forward. This will enrich your flower garden.

Just three weeks ago, at the time I write this article, my mother- and father-in-law died as a result of a car accident. In the fallout around that, the children, including my husband, had to go through their belongings. We had to sort 90+ years of memories and found some amazing things.

But the part that has to do with flower gardening lay outside their home. Now, in their later years, they did not do as much gardening as they had previously. But, they still had a few plantings around their home. They had lived in this house for over 50 years and some of the plants provided memories to my husband and his siblings going back to their childhood.

It became very important to my husband and me to make sure we brought some of these plants into our own garden. There are the irises that my father-in-law fought to grow, in certain locations around the house, and that he fought to control in others. I don't know how many irises he gave away over the years trying to thin his beds and keep them from taking over.

There is the purple phlox that finally found its place outside the back door off the patio. When we were there this time, they were in magnificent bloom. Some of these will find their way into at least three gardens as an uncle has taken some plantings as well.

Although not part of the flower garden, there is the tree that my father-in-law planted to take the place of the garage the city would not allow him to build. "If I can't build a garage, I'm going to grow me one." Or the other tree, a red oak, in the front yard. I have pictures of my own children as little tykes standing in front of it. It has come a long way, baby.

Then there are the red roses of three different varieties in the back yard. These haven't been there as long as some of the other flowers. But they have been there since the grandkids and great-grandkids started coming along. What a better memory than carrying cuttings from these into our own flower gardens for our grandchildren to admire and know came from their great-grandparents.

This carrying on of the memories attached to the flower garden and of the joy of flower gardening is a good tradition. It is a living way to bring forward the past into the present. You may wish to consider this yourself as well. Browse our gardening articles in our Gardening Tips Articles for tips on how to take cuttings or otherwise propagate plants from your own parents' and grandparents' flower gardens. Share these living reminders of your personal history with your own family. Make your flower gardening that much more important and enjoyable.

© 2005, Sandra Dinkins-Wilson.

Find more articles about Flower Gardening for all Flower Garden Lovers at our informative website, http://flowergardenlovers.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden

The flittering of the butterfly through your garden is no... Read More

Lazy Fish Worries

If your fish hang out at the bottom of the... Read More

The Incredible Daylily

Some people have referred to daylilies as the poor man's... Read More

Gardening and Flowers

Gardening is one of life's pleasures whether you grow flowers,... Read More

Blue Wild Flowers for Your Garden

Planting wild flowers in your garden, or simply scattering wild... Read More

Composting and Composters: A Basic Introduction

Why Compost?Recent studies show that an average family throws away... Read More

Orchid Myths -The Truth

Here are some of the popular orchid myths#1 Orchids are... Read More

The Perfect Accent -- Miniature Roses

Indoors or out, you'll find miniature roses very easy to... Read More

Butterfly Gardening

Butterfly gardening is not only a joy, it is one... Read More

Plastic & Resin Patio Furniture ? What You Don?t Know

What is the first thought that comes through your mind... Read More

How To Grow Luscious Tomatoes

The tomato is the most commonly grown vegetable in the... Read More

The Container Vegetable Garden

If you live in an apartment or town home, you... Read More

Agio Patio Furniture

The fresh air of the early spring solstice and the... Read More

All About Hybrid Tea Roses

Hybrid tea roses and the original tea rose are the... Read More

Lap Pools ? Great Exercise Inside Or Any Size Backyard

Do you love swimming? Do you dream of an in... Read More

Flowers That Beautify Your Home and Garden

To help gardeners choose flowers, various systems for rating hardiness... Read More

Garden Sheds: Wood Finishing and Weatherproofing Tips

To keep wood garden sheds, arbors, or trellises looking their... Read More

Gardening Tips and Tricks for Late Autumn

Preparing for the Winter Months: Gardening in OctoberWhen you feel... Read More

Buying Teak Wood Furniture Responsibly

Teak has many qualities that make the indoor and outdoor... Read More

How To Check If Cut Flowers Are Fresh

Fresh flowers should feel crisp or firm. Before you buy,... Read More

How To Attract Hummingbirds

Yes! You can attract hummingbirds to your home. Even if... Read More

Wildflower Seeds - Ten Reasons Why You Should Plant...

Native wildflowers are those that were growing naturally in the... Read More

Camellias

Camellias Named by Linnaeus in 1735 in honour of... Read More

Teak Furniture - The Proper Way to Care For & Clean It

Teak furniture is tropical hardwood that has a rich, golden... Read More

How to Find and Work With a Porch Swing Contractor To Install the Porch Swing of Your Dreams

You've found a great Porch Swing and you know exactly... Read More

Tips for Backyard Fish Ponds Care

Installing a backyard fish pond is an aesthetic addition to... Read More

Tuberous Begonias

If you appreciate plants that have no hesitation in boldly... Read More

Durable Wooden Swing - Decorate Your Outdoors with One

There is nothing better to do on a hot, lazy... Read More

Gallica Roses

Very soon stocks of new season's roses will... Read More

Fun, Funky Garden Plants

I have a love for funky, fun and unique garden... Read More

Indoor Gardening Tips for Jerry Seinfeld

"I have no plants in my house. They won't live... Read More

Wild Flower Garden - Make Amends...Your Plants Will Love It

A wild flower garden, just like any garden you wish... Read More

Choosing Pond Plants

A pond without plants is like cake without icing. Pond... Read More