Walking in her garden, I saw . . .
pink, white, and sometimes blue, hydrangeas.
Hello friends,
I have this treasure chest of memories of my grandma and her flowers.
Every visit to the farm, and later her small house in town, included a walk around her gardens. Our conversations flowed and never felt rushed. No multi-tasking or checking phones.
Just us, the breeze, her flowers and vegetables, and the warmth that always made me feel seen and appreciated. When I recall those times, I realize that the most significant events in life don’t always come with fanfare and excitement.
The best moments arrive while strolling around the flower beds that hug the side of a white clapboard house. Butterflies, bees, and a soft breeze caress each word and wrap it in memory.
As I tended my own gardens this week, pulling weeds, planting new azaleas, and pruning the dead leaves of winter, I realized how and why these small tasks give me so much pleasure.
I can’t change the world, but I can create a small garden full of beauty to grace my speck of the universe and anyone who visits.
Growing massive hydrangeas like Grandma's still eludes me. My one specimen tucked in a corner thrives in spite of me.
I capture blossoms and bees. My words and photographs, imperfect but sincere, emerge from the cocoon of memories and those meandering walks with my grandmother.
I share more moments of why garden walks spark joy and remembering.
Flowers have a powerful impact on our wellbeing and can improve our emotional health (and be sure to watch the video).
As Ella croons, “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing!”
“Every day there is magic in the mundane. In the “small stuff” we find the “big stuff”—the satisfying experiences and little vignettes that make our lives extraordinary.”
—Anthea C. Sratigos
Find a little wonder this week—pick a flower, give a flower, and create memories.
With gratitude,
Kathryn
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I can’t change the world, but I can create a small garden full of beauty to grace my speck of the universe and anyone who visits.
Who says you can't change the world? Many of us do. We don't know it.
What lovely flowers and memories, Kathryn. I, too, remember my dear Mum's garden, which was her pride and joy right up until she had her stroke. She would spend most of her time out there tending plants and cutting back old growth at the right times. The plants I remember most were the roses, some of which had been in the ground before my Mum and dad moved into that house in 1958! It was white with pink edges and had the most divine scent. Funnily enough, she had both pink and blue hydrangeas; the blue ones come from planting in acid soil, and the pink ones need alkaline soil. They were beautiful, and still today, I love those flowers.
Unfortunately, I haven't got any flowers in my garden as I'm unable to tend to them or afford a gardener to do it for me. It's all grass, so someone can come every couple of weeks to keep it short. Not too short, though, as I like to see the daisies and buttercups (and even dandelions) coming through. I love wildflowers like that, although so many people think of them as weeds. Longer grass is good for wildlife, too. Over here, the councils have been letting some parks and fields grow tall with wildflowers and tall grasses for nature to flourish. Sadly, there are so many people who complain about it being untidy and want it all to be cut back. It does cut at some point, but it's good to see something other than short-shorn perfect lawns everywhere. As for that plastic grass, it's awful stuff and should be banned. It's so harmful to nature, both creatures and plants. Sorry, I've got on about that somewhat - it just happens to be a bugbear of mine. Xx 🌷🌼🌻🌺💕