Some Calla Lilies my husband bought for me last weekend in honor of Mother's Day and my birthday, which I picked out at my favorite nursery, S &. K Greenhouse. I've been cautious with roses for two years, simple because of the Japanese beetles. While I've written about my concerns about Japanese beetles and the… Continue reading Coming Up Calla Lilies
Category: garden
For Mothers and Daughters, Here and Gone
A view of the house and two shade gardens from the Arendelle Garden on Friday. It's here ... whether we're ready for it or not. No longer just around the corner, it's time to mark the moment for Mom. For some, Mother's Day marks the beginning of planting season for gardeners in colder regions, while… Continue reading For Mothers and Daughters, Here and Gone
After the Rain: Corrie’s Gardens
Almost four years ... almost four since Corrie earned her wings. For three of those four years, I struggled with the coming of spring. In 2021, 2022, and even last year, I felt the tick of March ... April ... May.
Corrie’s Gardens Talk
As Corrie's fourth angel anniversary approaches this month, I share pictures from the end of April to today. I decided to let Corrie's gardens and flowers speak for themselves.
For the Beauty
"For the Beauty of the Earth" was always a hymn that could calm me. No matter how I felt at church, or if I was coming out of a nap as a young child during service, this song calmed me. It gave my mind an instant image of nature in every geography. I could pictures… Continue reading For the Beauty
A Poem for Grieving Parents: After the Ink Fades
Parents, like me, know all about learning opportunities. We experience them each second, minute, hour, day, night, month and year. Oh, my dear, we know the lessons well. We never ask for them. We never request to join a school of thought, nor wish this club’s type of exclusivity on any other. We experience our lessons in nature when the birds chirp, yet hear no shriek of excitement, or “Mom, how you doing?” We have learning opportunities we never sought, and knowledge we never wished to gain.
Easter Thoughts on Corrie, Gardens, and Family
Bright Easter theme colors show around Corrie's Butterfly Garden with the Phlox and Dianthus in blossom. Holidays are never straight forward. They mean something different to everyone. In my gut, I know it's the fourth Easter without Corrie. This is a marker, which never goes away. Holidays, for some, are wearing bright colored, checkered shirts… Continue reading Easter Thoughts on Corrie, Gardens, and Family
Dear Corrie, You Won the Last Argument: I Garden
I think Corrie would feel proud. She might not say it.
Pictures Tell a Thousand Stories
It drove my second grade teacher Mrs. Rewis crazy if a student said, "a hundred" or "a thousand" because these weren't precise numbers. A student could say, "one hundred," and this is accurate. But some stories don't possess an exact number ...
On Any Given Day: Corrie’s Retreat
The year, 2023, provided the most positive growth since Corrie's death because I grew in confidence after witnessing what I'd accomplished in the gardens. We went from one garden to three in 2023, along with island gardens. The result is now I have a vision for gardens everywhere on the property, and John has helped me plan them, along with officially naming the farm, "Corrie's Retreat."
Corrie's Season 