A garden is a delight to the eye and a solace for the soul ~ Sadi

Last Thursday,at 2:40 PM,the greatest gardener I shall ever know,passed away.

He was frail,in pain,and almost blind.

He was ready.

He voiced it many times,to me,but I chose not to hear it.

He was ready to join my mother and brother.

And at 2:40 PM,Thursday,March 29th,he did.

Thankfully,in his sleep.

…During a nap,of all things..The man never took naps,fer crying out loud…He was always moving…

Peacefully.

And for that,I am grateful.

As if Mother Nature knew he was home,

the day after his passing,I noticed this…

This plumeria –a yellow and cream-  is from a cutting from the original he brought back from Hawaii.It has never,ever bloomed this early.The original plant is on the right…

The past few months,I had been letting things slide.

Seeing to Dad had taken a lot of my time,but this past Sunday,I felt the overwhelming urge to get back to the garden.

Weed.

Make things right.

Make TheGreatWall look good again.

Almost as if something,or someone,was pushing me on.

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A garden is the best alternative therapy.

~ Germaine Greer

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“Your tomatoes really need to be staked,girl.”

“You might want to edge that garden…”

“I think those plants need a good soaking.Use the soaker hose.”

“Those lines need to be straighter.”

I have no idea how many times,I wanted to call him,and ask his advice,but something told me to keep moving.

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In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends

~ Kozuko Okakura

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The orchids seem to be giving him a final salute,also….

 

Regrets?

I have  one.

That he never got to see his orchids in their new home.

And this one….

I can hear him saying to me,”Leave it alone.It’s happy.That’s what I always did.”

…and so,I shall…

One of his greatest pleasures,in life,was Fort DeSoto.He and my mother would go early,every Wednesday morning.

…”before the tourists get there”…

She,to go shelling.He,to look at the wild orchids.One of their greatest joys was to take the grandchildren.She,to show them shells.He,to put them on his shoulders,and wade out to the sandbar,to go shelling for their Grammy.

But,after she died,he never returned.

So,this May 25th,on what would’ve been his 93rd birthday,we shall return.For the grandchildren to take the great grandchildren,on their shoulders,out to the sandbar and sprinkle his ashes.

And,maybe have some bar-b-qued ribs,potato salad,and Decadent Chocolate Cake….his favorite meal….

And maybe,spy a wild orchid,or two….

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A garden is evidence of faith. It links us with all the misty figures of the past who also planted and were nourished by the fruits of their planting

~ Gladys Taber