BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: UNEARTHING TREASURES

Link | August 17, 2018August 17, 2018 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

If you are familiar with the movie A GOOD YEAR you might remember this quote… “all she needs is a fresh coat of paint and a good scrub.” This a family favorite movie so I have enjoyed that quote many, many times.

This summer marks 20 years that my dream of a potting shed/office became reality. Mr. G out of love for me and the secret desire to reclaim some of our home from all the garden stuff, built this tiny bit of heaven for me.

A couple of weeks ago, I thought of the movie quote while standing in my potting shed. Summers are a time of gathering things in the potting shed and little time to tidy things up. So, as I stood in the middle of all the stuff, I thought YIKES I think she “needs a fresh coat of paint and a good shrub.” So it began … moving stuff —lots and lots of stuff.

While moving things around I unearthed so many memories!

Catalogs from the 80s and 90s…

Then and now, I love pouring over catalogs!

Receipts from Jackson and Perkins test panel roses (Anyone remember those?) I had high hopes that one of my test panel roses would “take off” and I would be able to officially name one for my daughter.

Picture from the early 90s… (Sorry for the blurry picture of a picture.)

So many fragrant petals. In those days I dried roses, herbs and flowers to make wreaths and other garden crafts to sell at a local garden center. SO MUCH FUN.

And, while digging in the garden last week I also unearthed a plant tag from Jackson and Perkins, Medford Oregon…. Not sure of the date, but I haven’t grown roses in the place I found this tag since the late early 90s. Note the AARS trademark.

It was a lot of fun to see old things again and walk down memory lane. Many of the roses in the pictures I no longer have.

Tastes change.

Garden conditions change.

Little trees grew.

Large trees were hit by lightening.

A few pests showed up.

Sustainable growing practices became more important.

Some things hold true. I was over the moon about roses and all their companions then and I continue to be today. The garden has always been a balm for my soul; the place where my creativity soars; a place where I have the closest connection to the Creator.

BLOOM THYME THIS WEEK:

Yes, a fresh coat of paint and a good shrub was just what was needed….

… plus a new lamp, a super cute spool of jute (thanks Lacey) and a cute baby boy pic!

Zinnias out growing their space and bringing in the butterflies and hummingbirds.

Mother of Pearl again … I can’t get enough.

Evening view from the potting shed porch.

WISHING YOU A PLACE TO CALL YOUR OWN AND

A VERY HAPPY BLOOM THYME FRIDAY!

The Veriest Back

Link | August 8, 2016August 8, 2016 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

I wanted to share with you some pictures and a video from the “veriest back” of my garden.

My children coined that phrase “veriest back” for the back area of the garden as well as the 3rd seat in the back of our family station wagon. A spot that was often sought after and sometimes fought for! 😉

Remember the station wagons of the 80s? That was pre mini van. The station wagon worked so well for us, we never went the mini van route. Secretly, I believe that Mr. G who loves sporty cars, trucks and SUVs, never could bring himself to buy a mini van. But, he did provide a state of the art station wagon for me and my little crew, and later an SUV for me, a sporty car for the girl and a black truck for the boy.

But, oh how I loved my station wagon. L O V E!!! #memories #family #children

The “veriest back” of the garden is where the wild things grow — and things that do not need much care from the gardener (me). With limited time to “garden,” this area sometimes gets left out in the “care department.” But it is still very beautiful to me. Today it seemed the Black Forrest (Kordes) and Candy Oh (Proven Winners) roses just begged to be photographed! This is not their biggest flush of the season, but still they beckoned me today and I found myself remembering my children and my station wagon as I took time to enjoy “the veriest.”

PS
I even found a stunning lily hiding back there! It was in so much shade I could hardly capture it. #shestough

I also found the largest rose hip I have ever seen on a rugosa… bigger than a quarter!

I also found some weeds … they were not in a photographic mood, so I just moved on. 😬

Thanks for sharing my trip down memory lane

and some wild things!

Daffodils and Memories

April 5, 2013March 9, 2014 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

From the tiny Tete e Tete to the gigantic yellow trumpets … I have always loved daffodils. They scream spring!!

Daffodils are perennial, increase eagerly and are wonderfully deer and rodent proof.

Four years ago they became even more important to me. We lost a beloved family member on March 19, just as the daffodils were blooming. Uncle Tony (Mr. G’s brother) heroically battled cancer for 20 years. At 49 years of age, it was much too early to lose him. Uncle Tony was a rare and special person … extremely creative, rock solid in his faith, a lover of people, a gardener AND a lover of spring & daffodils.

Just before his death when we were visiting with him, he mentioned wanting to get out in his garden and in particular wanted to see the daffodils blooming. That did not happen.

In the fall of that year, I individually wrapped hundreds of daffodils in burlap, tied them with a jute bow and gave them away to anyone who wanted to plant daffodils in Tony’s memory and so many did!

Each year people give me reports on Tony’s daffodils and I know he is remembered.

He was just too special to forget.

Here are a couple of favorite family pictures….

Uncle Tony, Mr. G and our son Matt when we was about 4

So many of our family memories are tied to plants and gardening. Here are a couple of other posts about family members and gardens…

Memories of my Mom

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Do you have plants that hold special memories for you?

Family Memories…

February 1, 2013December 20, 2014 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

My dad went home to heaven on Monday, January 14, 2013. He was a faithful Christian and knew what awaited him. Some of his final words were that he could see my mom and she had a cup of coffee ready for him. It had been 23 years since she had fixed him a cup of coffee and he was excited! She was known for her coffee. You can read about my mom and her “coffee culture” here. As much as I miss them, I love it that they are together again. They were soul mates.

Today I hung my dad’s jacket in my Potting Shed. I love seeing it while I’m working.

And, the forsythia cuttings I took from his yard are blooming and getting leaves!!