Friday, June 26, 2009

Friday Flowers: Memories of Grandma's Garden

Grandma's House and Grandma -undated photos
Click photo to enlarge

My mother's parents built a big house near the main intersection of the small town where they practiced medicine. The doctor's office was accessed through the side door near the driveway. The windows on the left lower window looked out from the waiting room and the next window was the examination room and dispensary. The back of the house overlooked a large yard with a deep perennial border on three sides. Grandma loved working in her garden in the evenings.

In 1984, Grandma shocked me with the news that she was selling the house and moving to a condominium. She was only 88 years old! I was busy with our two year old twins and hadn't noticed her getting older and struggling to keep up the big property. Before she moved, she made sure I had several boxes of plants from her garden.


Iris, Pulmonaria, Peony, Coral Bells, Lily of the Valley, Evening Primrose, Trillium, ferns, and more...

We moved to another house in June 1987 and I moved the plants to the new garden where they still bloom every season. Each spring and summer I enjoy the flowers and remember Grandma's garden. I still have her old watering cans and use them to water my potted plants and tomatoes.

Flowers, like memories, can last forever.

14 comments:

  1. How wonderful to move the flowers with you and have the memories of your Grandma's garden.

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  2. A wonderful way to remember your grandma, a gift of life in the garden.

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  3. What an amazing woman she must have been, and what a life lived. :c) How lovely that you still have so much of her with you Ruth.

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  4. That's so neat Ruth. I'm glad you were able to save your grandma's flowers and they're still blooming for you as a memorial.

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  5. What a delightful story! A small token gift that has provided you years of memories of what I'm sure is an incredible lady. I love stories like this...it certainly warms the heart.

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  6. Your flowers are so precious,since they were first tended by Grandma.
    Blessings,Ruth

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  7. Thanks for sharing such a heart-warming story - and lovely photos!

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  8. Flowers make a lovely legacy. Good for you--moving them to your new place.

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  9. Mexico Mom.12:50 am GMT-4

    The picture of Grandma Devins on your blog was taken as she was walking down the main street of Banff, Albert in June 1945. Banff Springs Hotel had just re-opened after closing for the duration of World War 2.The Canadian Medical Assoc. had its annual meeting there that year.
    Your Grandfather was elected as the next president of the CMA, the first "country doctor" to achieve that honor. Sadly he died before taking office.

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  10. I grok this. You knew I would.

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  11. Yes I knew you would grok this. I meant to link to your recent post.
    http://anvilcloud.blogspot.com/2009/06/once-more.html

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  12. So glad you have those, Ruth.

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  13. What a Amazing women she have been. I'm glad you were able to save your grandma's flowers. I love stories like this. it certainly warms the heart.

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