In order to appreciate the beauty of a garden, you have to learn to accept and respect death. As the seasons change and as plants either die or die back, the emphasis changes to what will either grow next or to the reality that an empty space may be left behind permanently. As I age, I'm no longer concerned with filling every hole because of the work involved with maintaining the life of a plant, especially within the landscape.
Over these past two years, I have lost a few good friends. These will be holes in my life that will not be filled. Eventually, a few new friends will be added, but the memory of those who have passed will be cherished forever.
When I'm out working in my garden, I have a chance to think clearly and to put together the pieces of that giant puzzle called life. Sometimes, I don't think at all. Gardening can be a terrific way to turn off the noise. Granted, in the suburbs, I'm often surrounded by an almost perpetual noise of lawnmowers and leafblowers.
As gardeners, during the colder months, we plan and prepare. As the seed catalogs, our garden porn, come rolling in, we admire the beauty of what can be and what lies ahead. We also look back often with both sadness and fondness through our photographs and memories of what we once had.
May your gardens in 2021 flourish beyond your expectations. May your memories of friends and loved ones lost, hold a special place in your heart forever. In addition to the tears, may their memory bring a special smile to your face as the memory of my friends do with me.
To Scott, Steve and Gilbert, you guys will each hold a special place in my heart till eternity and your memory will always bring a huge smile to my face and even a little chuckle.
