16 years ago the road commission was widening my street to five lane. As discouraging as that was we were planning on a new street scape, losing our 150 year old Tulip tree and all of the Blue Spruces.
One hot summer day while working in the kitchen I heard a loud 'thump thump thump'. out front. I looked outside and was surprised to see the loaders dropping huge boulders on the side of the road! I dried my hands and ran out to talk to the site supervisor. I asked if they could just 'drop' those boulders onto my front yard....and they did! I later asked the fellas that were working on the big box retail going in across the street (where the 30 acres of orchard had been) if they could please bring up the large pink boulders at the back of that acreage...they came in on a Saturday and dropped of a several enormous boulders! On a side note as a thank you I made big pans of manicotti and spread a picnic table out on the front yard to feed the guys on that crew. They sure liked that lunch break!
My mom and dad lived next door and we made quick work of preparing the frontage (of course with the men in our family and hiring a gardener with a bob cat). We had to dig the holes half way and 'drop' the boulders in the hillside in such a way as they might look ages old. What fun! Since then I've added cornerstones from friends' grandparents barns, steps from others old gardens and even a peony from my great grandmas garden!
That same year my folks and I went to West Olive Nursery and picked out blue rugs shrubs and a few others ground shrubs to anchor the garden. Every year I set aside money to buy more plants or shared plants with passers-by.
In the 16 years of building this garden and adding or amending soil as necessary I've learned so much from my mother. She was the equivalent of a Master Gardener with two full English Gardens and one enormous rock garden. Mom shared with me her knowledge and her plants and we've enjoyed so many lovely days working in the gardens together.
My mom passed away in March this spring and I miss her company more than ever. We're closing her gardens and sharing plants among the kids. Needless to say my garden has swelled to overflowing and is spectacular. A joy and a gift from my mother in thought word and deed.
I am looking to find a kindred spirit who can help me as my mother did in identifying and talking over my/our gardens...there is nobody like mom, that's for sure...but surely there's a kindred spirit gardener out there?
As soon as I can get my pictures in order I'll share this lovely garden of mine. Much of my mothers love is planted in that garden and it shows. Thanks for reading. Adele