The garden in front of my home is dedicated to my parents. Helen Naude and Helen Renaissance are in memory of my mother, whose name was Helen. I have Serbian bellflowers planted at the base of the roses, because she was Serbian. the rose 'Heritage' reflects the wonderful heritage of love and a positive sense of responsibility they modeled so well. I think of them so often - especialy when I'm in the garden.

There is a garden within my garden that is dedicated to my mother. There's a photo of it on the gallery right now. Her ashes are buried there with a headstone and an angel. I planted all brightly colored roses(she loved bright colors) and also some succulents that she used to grow. I can see it from the kitchen window. I call it The Mommy Garden. I loved her dearly and it means a great deal to me to have her so close.

My dear friend Bob is putting an arbor over his parent's graves, planting one side with Cl Dainty Bess (his mom was named Bess) and the other with Crepuscule, since his dad loved yellow roses. I think it's so nice that this cemetery will let him to do this, since so many only allow grass these days. He told me that he was inspired by walking through the Sacramento Cemetery's beautiful archways. You can look at photos of some of them on HMF, under the "gardens" section.

Yet another nice topic, Devon - looking forward to what people have to say.
Anita

I Garden in a Community Garden thats been going for over 20 years a number of our members have passed and we have small memorial stones with their names along our paths!

I keep a variety of plants that remind me of friends and family who have passed or of those I care deeply about. There isn't a garden on my property that is entirely devoted to them, but are scattered about so there is history in every flower bed you come to.

There are also plants that were presented to me from special friends that are displayed in the garden.

Devon, this is truly a wonderful thread. My interest in antique roses really began with the thought of creating a memorial garden to our dog, Duchess, who died in February a few years ago. I began research roses, and I found many roses with the name of Duchess in them, and my journey led me to Ashdown roses. I miss this dog, but the roses help keep her memory alive.

Robert

I think it's Vicsgardenkeeper who has a whole garden devoted to the memory of children people have lost, hers included. Maybe somebody here could say more about it. It is a positive thing to keep sight of beauty even in grief..I think the person who died would want their memory to be kept alive through something alive, beautiful, and growing. For me, remembering my parents, it helps a little to think "they love me" rather than "they loved me". I think they would want me to feel it the rest of my life, rather than have it end with their lives. My condolences to other people who have lost loved ones.

Anyway I planted a Sombreuil at my parents' house in memory of my father and gave my nephews plants of it also as a memorial. What I most want to do is breed a rose so I can name it after them. I have collected a lot of open-pollinated hips this fall for that purpose.

I am planning to get a bird girl statue and am going to have a plaque made that says "In loving memory of..."

On an irreverent but affectionate note, my dog, whom I love as dearly as a person, keeps getting out the front door and chasing cars. If he dies maybe I should plant " Mad Dog Road Kill" ! A real rose! He had better not do that or I'm apt to drop dead myself.
Linda

It's really is great, that so many gardens have great meaning
for people. KAREN, that is a loving tribute, that was well
thought out for your parents. I'm sure they feel your love.

I love your story of "The Mommy Garden", PAMELA. It is
a way to have her in your life everyday and I'm sure she visits
and is aware of your joy and love. How nice to be able to see
it from the kitchen. She knows those bright roses are for her.

How kind, that the cemetery will allow your friend, Bob, to
do that, ANITA. I'm sure his parents will love the beauty of
those roses. That is a great story.

A community garden with memorial stones is very thoughtful,
LABREA.

JULIE, you are very gracious to give meaning to so much of
your garden and to have plants that remind you of loved ones,
who have passed.

I know how you feel ROBERT, I love my dog so much, so it's
great that you have a memorial garden for your Duchess.

You are so wise LINDA, to say that anyone would love to be
remembered by "something alive, beautiful and growing". I do
agree with you, that even in passing, we are really still loved by
those who pass, because they live on, in the world of spirit. Love
never dies. I wish you success in breeding a rose, to name after
loved ones. I didn't know a rose called Mad Dog existed (lol).
But please take care, with your doggie. We want him safe.

I have, interspersed throughout the garden, miniature yellow roses that I bought early this year in memory of a family friend who was rather close to us and had been coming to a lot of family functions. I call all the roses "Helen", which is funny cause they're not a named variety.

They were really healthy this year though, no blackspot AT ALL, they didn't bloom, but they kept their leaves, and that astonished me, especially since they were supermarket roses bought on a sentimental whim.

I planted Empress Josephine, in memory of my Mother, Josephine, who passed away a year ago. It really is a beautiful rose, just like my Mom. I know she would have loved a bouquet of those blooms.

Judith
{{gwi:307150}}

I walked for hours thru the gardens at the Antique Rose Emporium before I could select a rose for the grave of my beloved golden retriever Brady-- Lady Hillingdon. The association is so strong that whenever I see that rose in someone else's garden, I think of Brady!

I have been actively collecting roses that have the names of my loved ones, pets included, or have names with feelings that mean something to me.

In my front border, I have Maggie and Sassy Cindy for two of my cats. I have to call Johnny Becnel this spring to see if he still has Sweet Amy. Catherine Mermet is for my daughter Cathy. I don't have a Becky or a Jenny yet (Rebecca? Jennifer?), but I'm narrowing down the choices. Stephen's Big Purple is for my husband. I just ordered Connie's Favorite Gallica from Rogue Valley -- couldn't resist the name, don't ya know. Haven't seen any yet for "Andrew" or "Drew". My greyhounds are also represented: Emma is coming from Wisconsin Roses in the spring, and Danny Boy is sitting in his pot waiting for a spot in the garden. My dearly departed yellow Labrador, Murphy, has J. E. Murphy's Pink Tea.

Also in the collection are Inspiration, Prosperity, Quietness, Happy Child, Awakening, Lady of the Dawn (because I'm always up before the sun), Moonlight, and others. Grandmother's Hat is also here . . . in my case it's usually a ball cap. :) Heidelberg is where I lived when I was in my teens, Laguna (Beach) is one of my favorite places to visit, Mary Washington lived here in Fredericksburg, Sonia was in my wedding bouquet . . . I could go on and on.

Connie

Linda,
Thank you for remembering. We started Vic's Garden while I was still pregnant (knowing he would die at birth or soon after). I remember a garden center employee looking at me in shock as I started loading sod into my Jeep at 8 months pregnant. We have over 600 roses--more than 300 named for children. It's been six years now and so I'm less in touch with parents going through that type of loss. We now only add a handful a year. The garden is getting wilder and wilder looking as the old roses mature so we are actually going back and "editing" some of the original elements. I received a shipment of 2000 bulbs this week so the spring bloom (pre-rose) will be a traffic stopper. Vic has been a blessing in so many ways not the least of which is to get to know all of you and your beautiful roses. BTW my mother is in hospice and she has asked that her ashes be buried in our garden as well. Suggestions for a white OGR would be appreciated.

My father, who passed away about four years ago, dearly loved red roses and Mister Lincoln was his all time favorite. I'm thinking about turning a corner of the Bramasoli garden into a memorial: herbs (basil, borage, rosemary, etc.), red roses, grape tomatoes and either a small statue or an engraved stone.

Hi Vicsgardenkeeper, Your garden must be beautiful. I can't imagine how hard it would be to lose a baby. It is very special that it caused you to open your heart, your time and your life to others who had lost children. Did you breed roses so people could name them? I am sorry too to hear about your Mom...I do know something about how hard that can be. Take care.

Devon, I try to keep my dog inside but he runs like a streak and his favorite thing is running outside..he looks a little like a racehorse but small. I don't think we can fence the whole yard but might get an invisible fence or just put it across the front door. I don't like the idea of a shock collar but it would be better than him being killed. He's an imp.

Your garden for your Dad sounds beautiful Patrick. It's nice that you try to make a beautiful garden for your Mom too.
Linda