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Category: Gardening Remembrances | Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:14 am

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I remember my Grandpa as if he was still here and not gone these 45 years; my loving memory of him is one I will take to my grave. A few months ago I was in my garden and my mind was wandering as it is prone to do in the garden. I thought about my Grandfather and a memory long placed in that unconscious section of our brains opened up like a fog lifting from the water surface on a cool autumn morning. I remembered that I use to garden with my grandpa. I was Grandpa's assistant.

I had completely suppressed those memories of Walnut Street and as a five year old, helping him plant the seeds that grew into such beautiful pansies, violets and morning glories. I would get down on my knees right beside him as he tended to his irises and watched in amazement as he would cut the three rose bushes down and thinking he had killed them only to watch them bloom in all their glory later that spring and summer. He had a number of peony and lilac bushes that bloomed into such magnificent eye candy. I used to watch the ants that crawled in the peonies and wondered why they were always on the bulbs. Grandpa said that they liked the 'juice' that the flowers gave off and that was a good enough explanation for me. My Grandpa knew everything there was to know about gardening.

Grandpa had not always been the gardener in the family that job had been my grandmothers and these were really her flowers. He took over the gardening when she died and I guess by keeping her flowers growing it was his way to keep something of her with him. He nurtured his/her garden for many years even without his assistant who was busy with teenaged endeavors and too busy to help him. When age finally caught up with him, he reluctantly accepted the fact that the flowers would now only grow in his memories and somehow I think he was content with that. His flowers and my grandmother and soon he, himself, were all together again and maybe that was how it was meant to be all along.

There is nothing better a grandparent can do for their grandchildren than introduce them to gardening. They will remember you and the garden forever and be very thankful that you included them in your gardening.


Last edited: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:24 am

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Frank wrote on Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:33 am:

Well written AG. Someday I can't wait to have children and grandchildren and introduce them to the wonders of plants.

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gfreiherr wrote on Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:12 pm:

Very nice tribute to your grandfather. I have wonderful memories of my grandparents and their vast gardens.

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Jewell2009 wrote on Sat Nov 21, 2009 10:55 am:

What a wonderful sentiment. Enjoyed your thoughts and writing :)

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lulu1107 wrote on Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:01 pm:

How beautiful and touching. I can see it in my mind's eye. I like to tell stories of people who have left us as well. It's so important to share what made them special.

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Kay wrote on Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:32 pm:

Such a nice story. I am introducing my 4 yr. old granson to gardening by having him help water (not drown) my plants. He is coming to understand my love for all growing things!

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