My condolences, Susan. I wish you and your family all the best!

Thanks for letting us know, Susan. It feels good to work hard in a garden with your flowers and memories. Best wishes and a hug, Susan. Gean

This post was edited by harborrose on Sun, Jun 2, 13 at 21:53

So sorry for your loss, Susan. I knew I hadn't seen you post in awhile so something must have happened. Its nice you can remember him through your garden, and find an outlet in working in your flower beds. I've always said that gardening is therapy. I'm sure he's looking down on you and very proud of you.

Tammy

I'm sorry about your Dad, Susan. My own father was a gardener too and I still think of him when I work in my garden. May your memories bring you more comfort than sorrow.

Rosefolly

Susan, I'm so very sorry for your loss. The fact that your dad passed away suddenly must have been a great shock, giving you no time to prepare yourself. I hope the garden gives you the peace you need to overcome your pain.

Ingrid

Losing a parent is difficult at no matter what age. My thoughts are with you. Gardening is a wonderful way to vent sorrow.

My grandmother was the "parent" who taught me to love gardens -- and roses. I still miss her, but I think of her when I play with roses.

I know your father will likewise be with you, in your garden.

Jeri

So sorry for your loss. Many of us find solace in working in the yard. Take care.

Susan, I just posted a note of condolence to Sherry in FL, whom I've never met, and now, even though we've never met, I'm feeling a kindred connection with you as well. I am so sorry to hear of your father's passing, and I am warmed by your ongoing bond with him and other relatives through your love of their/your garden. Two of my grandparents gardened (one on each side of my family), my aunt gardened, and my mother gardened. My grandparents have long passed, and my aunt passed away in November. My parents are both in long-term care now, and I am losing them as well. Like you, I have been reflecting on their gardens and taking solace in their love of plants, especially roses, that they instilled in me through stories, chores, and shared memories. How wonderful that you garden in the same soil where loved ones before you gardened. My family members resided in Texas and I live in Oregon, but I have some pass along plants in my garden that I treasure. When I am sitting in my garden on a warm and breezy afternoon, I can feel the presence of all my gardening family members who came before. I believe the peek-a-boo of the sweet-pungent scents, the embrace of patchwork blossoms, the gentle whispers of foliage, and the handfuls of cool gritty soil slipping between my fingers are nigh timeless experiences. Sometimes it feels as if I am sensing the world around me through all those eyes and ears and hands who came before. I can hear my aunt's voice lamenting the trees overshadowing her favorite Nearly Wild rose, and I can hear my mother laugh, "Tropicana is your father's favorite because it's the only rose whose name he knows." Gardens are a healing place to laugh and cry and orient oneself to change...I think because in the garden, the meaning of change is clear and the change itself is purposeful. As we each relate our experiences through this forum of fellow gardening spirits, I look forward to sharing in your growing wisdom and connection to the soil. A couple of weeks ago, Linda Buzzell posted an article about the importance of rose gardening. Perhaps, in the grand scheme of living and passing, what you are discovering in your backyard is the ultimate significance of an antique rose in a bed of soil. --Carol

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, Susan. I'm in my childhood home now too after taking care of my Mom until she passed. I know the garden was a great help to me then. I spent many hours out there in her garden and felt a closeness to her. I'm sure your Dad's garden will bring you that same feeling.

Hugs.

This delayed spring and early summer are for you to extend the beauty of spring as you need it.

I'm sorry for the death of your father; it's good he was able to stay in his home until the end. Thanks for letting us know. You have my condolences.
Melissa

((((Susan))))

There's nowhere better than a garden for healing.

Thanks to all of you. When I am in the garden I am able to understand and accept that "to everything there is a season". There is an order to nature that reminds me that life is both fleeting and eternal.
I am humbled and encouraged by nature and I get a tremendous sense of wellbeing in my garden.
I get so excited to see a new bloom...
Only us dirt diggers truly understand it.
Susan

I am so sorry, that must have been quite the shock, we always know that our parents will not live for ever, but it sure is hard when the time comes.

I am glad you have the garden to be close to his spirit in.

I'm sorry for your loss, Susan. What a wonderful place to have...the garden where so many who have gone before you have loved the soil and their plants. Congratulations. Kim

My sincere condolences, Susan. Gardens truly are places to heal.

Anne

This post was edited by annesfbay on Mon, Jun 3, 13 at 2:30

I am so sorry to hear of your loss, Susan. The garden is a great healer and one that has such a history in your family must be more so. Take care of yourself.

Dear Susan...I wish this was a happier time for you. So glad to hear that you can honor your Father by gardening where he did.
Preyers are coming your way.
Jeannie

So sorry for your loss. It's horrible to lose a parent. But good to know you can take comfort in the same things he loved, & in the very same garden.

I know how hard this is Susan. I'm sorry to hear of your loss. It's true that gardening is good therapy. I dedicated a little garden space as a memorial to my mother. I find it comforting to work there. I planted it with her favorite bright colors and her ashes are there.

My maternal grandmother was the green thumb in my family. She could take a cutting of anything and stick it in the ground and make it grow. I'm not that good, by any means, but I did get her love of making a pretty place in the yard. She had a few roses, one of which was a very dainty and tiny stemmed baby pink thing that she called the Baby Rose. It wasn't a tiny plant even with those very thin canes, and it never got pruned, so it was taller than I am. Cecille Brunner was the closest I could come to it after not terribly well informed searching. The older I've gotten, the more I like and need to mess about in the dirt and with pots. I have to have growing things to be happy, and there have to be flowers of multiple kinds in there. The day my father died in 2004, I went and did some retail therapy, and came home with a wine barrel, Cecille Brunner, and a trellis. I still have the barrel (it has new occupants!) and the rose. When we bought this house, I had Cecille planted before the first month was over - and it had been hacked down no more than 3 feet tall to fit in my car to get to the house from where it was being 'baby sat' for me. Gram's been gone for nearly 30 years now, but I feel the strongest connection to her still when I'm out in the garden, planning, moving, weeding, and bending over and sniffing something pretty. Dad and I didn't have much of a relationship, sad to say, but my Gram was my rock.

My condolences on your loss. I am glad that you have your garden to turn to for comfort when you need it.

Diane

I'm so sorry, Susan, that your dad is gone from you, but time in the garden, working where he worked will help in the healing. I'm praying that you'll be comforted and at peace.

Sherry

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