Where flowers bloom so does hope
An old house in our neighborhood had the most lovely perennial garden. In fact, it had been included in my hometown’s garden tour at one time. Often when I walked by, I complimented the elderly woman who tended the flowers on a daily basis in the summer. She lived with a couple whom I assumed were her family. She didn’t speak English, but smiled and nodded at me as if she knew what I said. I once tried greeting in Polish, but she simply shook her head.
Then I didn’t see her anymore. The house was eventually sold. When I walked past and saw her garden gone to weed, the flowers from her beautiful garden tempted me. I feared every single perennial would be razed.
Just in time
Shortly after I snapped this photo, I noticed a truck parked in front and a woman dressed in overalls and boots was digging up plants and shrubs and placing them into buckets.
When I asked what was going on, she told me she had permission to take what she wanted from the owners. I asked if she was taking everything, since there was so much. She told me to “please,” grab a shovel and take what I could because the house would soon be razed.
Fortunately, my granddaughter was with me, so we hurried home, changed into jeans, grabbed bags and shovels and raced back down the block.
When I see the flowers blooming this year, I think of the lovely gardener with a tender heart. These are just a few of her perennials:
When I moved my late mother from Ohio to assisted living near me in Michigan, I transplanted some of her delphinium and myrtle. I’m glad it did. I love seeing the blue flowers in the fall. Like the elderly woman in my neighborhood, she loved her garden. I like to think she speaks to me through the flowers, telling me that if there is still beauty in the world, we’ll be all right.
Thank you for visiting.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist:
Multi-finalist award winning novel In the Context of Love
Picture book Gordy and the Ghost Crab
Latest poetry chapbook: Sleepwalker
To buy books: In the Context of Love | Gordy and the Ghost Crab | Sleepwalker
Connect with Linda on social media: LinkTree
I’m teary and happy at the same time, Linda. I’m so touched by how you let the facts and photos be unembellished. Less here is so much more. We’ve moved Julie’s grandmother’s peonies six times. They/she are with us. Thank you for saving the plants, for digging with your granddaughter who will remember, for caring and caring and caring. Jack R
Well, thank you so much! I love that you have Julie’s mother’s peonies. In the fall, I plan to divide they delphiniums and take some to my daughter’s home. 🌺