Saturday, February 6, 2010

A Gift In My Garden

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        One day in 1996 , during the early spring my mother died after a battle with ovarian cancer, my sister-in-law called me to ask if I wanted some of my mother’s Easter lilies from her front yard bed at the ranch.

        My mother had planted those lilies, and because my sister-in-law and brother were living in the house , where my mother and father had lived for years, they were surrounded by my mother’s gardening.

        I said yes, knowing I was in over my head ( I knew nothing about lilies), but I had felt in over my head since her death anyway.

        What was one more example of how I was supposed to now be grown up and wise and in matriarchal charge of our now disjointed motley family?

        How was I to know how to make things grow as she had?

        So when the lilies were graciously delivered to me, I planted them in my front flower bed, knowing we were all at risk:  the lilies that had survived and thrived for years for my mother, and me , because I couldn’t stand to lose anything else.

        Then on May 18th, my birthday, as I walked across the street from the high school where I taught, and I began to walk through my yard, I saw it.

        One single lily. Just one. Just for me.

Happy Birthday Laura,

                   Love Mother

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        This memory was triggered this afternoon by another gardening surprise, illustrated in the photo above.

        My hyacinths are starting to bloom. Again- I do not know why. They are not supposed to grow in my area.  We just had a freeze.  I planted them feeling as insecure as I did that spring 14 years ago.

        Thank you Mother.

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28 comments:

Debra@CommonGround said...

Girlfriend, this is what I'm talkin' about!
Just wonderful!
love,
Debra

Jeanette said...

What a lovely post. It brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face.

Karen said...

Laura, this is beautiful. We are surrounded by so many signs of love that we can easily miss if we take the time to look.

JB said...

Your mom, who was something special, always looks down and smiles on her wonderful daughter.
What a wonderful way post.
love to you my friend.

Sarah said...

What a thoughful,heartwarming post. I call these "pass along plants" and they are the best kind. My mother gave up her home and garden when she turned 90. Sadly, neither my sister or I thought to take some of the plants before she sold her home.
Happy Birthday!

Simple Home said...

What a wonderful post. I'm so glad you took the lilies. It reminds me of that verse in the Bible...Consider the lilies.
Blessings,
Marcia

joanne said...

My mother also died in the spring of 96. It's been a very long 14 years. I still struggle and was not able to hold the family together as was my job being the eldest daughter and all. She gave me an Easter lily every single year and some of them are still growing and blooming. It is indeed a gift from her...thanks for the memory.

Theresa said...

Sweet! Triggers memories for me! My Mama passed away 21 years ago and I planted many flowers from her garden:) It has been a long time and I still feel warm when they come up and bloom. A blessing and a Mother's Love over and over! Hugs dear Laura from someone who shares this feeling!

Debbie's Garden said...

There's just no other way to explain incidents like these is there!? Its like a hug from beyond. Lovely.

Tanna said...

Beautiful gift. Wonderful appreciation of the gift. And, great inspirational gift to us today. Thank you, Laura.

Elizabethd said...

I still have many of my mother's plants, and they are very precious.

ritad said...

My story is very similar. My Mother gave me a few Iris bulbs several years before she died (2000)they bloomed the first year after I planted them, but they did not like the home I gave them and never bloomed again, until the Spring after her death, one HUGH white bloom appeared. Just another way our Mothers have to show us they are always with us. Since that year, I have moved the Iris and added many to the bed and they are beautiful every year.

trash talk said...

Love cultivated with faith never fails to bloom. Beautiful post.
Debbie
BTW, May 19 for me...explains a lot doesn't it?

Lisa said...

Love this post! What a God wink! :)

Deb said...

don't you love it when your loved ones send you signs after they have gone on...great post....

Anonymous said...

This post just made me cry. So beautiful. Your mom is still watching over you and wanted to tell you Happy Birthday.

Anonymous said...

Such a thoughtful sweet post. It reminded me of this: On the day of my mother's funeral seven and a half years ago, we drove by our old house in the little town where we had previously lived, and in the back garden was a riot of gladiolii blooming like crazy. We had planted those from some bulbs she had shared, which were originally planted by my late father who passed 21 years before she did!

Scribbler

Ticking and Toile said...

Laura,
What a sweet remembrance of your dear mother. My mom passed away in 1999, and I know how very hard it is to be here without a mom. That is such a beautiful reminder! You know, I believe our loved ones who have passed are now our guardian angels.....maybe she has been nurturing the lily along so you will know she's still here in spirit.
Take care!
Shellagh

Jenny said...

What an absolutely lovely and poignant post. I'm so glad you have a tangible remembrance of your Mom.

Sarah said...

What a beautiful gift and a lovely memory!

June said...

Hi Laura, I am typing through tears after reading this tonight. A wise woman once said to me when I was expecting my first child, that once I became a mother I would be a mother forever. And that is what I believe...forever. Your mother is still mothering you in a most loving way.
hugs dear friend.

Bacardi Mama said...

Hi Laura,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I don't really follow any specific plan I just try to watch what I eat and exercise. If you read more on my blog, you'll know that I am a big fan of the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. I credit them with a lot of my success so far. I've enjoyed my visit here.
Warmly,
Nancy

Low Tide High Style said...

My mother was also a wonderful gardener so I could relate to your story. I think our loved ones who have passed send us little signs to let us know that they are still around and watching over us. How wonderful that your mother lets you know she's around with such beautiful reminders!

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Kat :)

hydroponics said...

I guessed that white spray is very helpful on a flowering plant.

Anonymous said...

so beautiful, Laura. Thanks

grace

Glenda/MidSouth said...

What a nice post! Your Mom paid you a visit! :)
Thanks for stopping by. That store has some very unusual things. Just wished they were not so pricey.

Donna said...

What a nice surprise...both times. Our departed loved ones can communicate with us in the most inspired ways can't they? My Grandmother always had tons of violets that she loved and tended to. I have two, in her honor, in my kitchen window and they started blooming this year on December 10th...her birthday. They have not stopped blooming yet and I think of her every day when I look at them.

Thanks for checking out my blog. I'm glad you decided to check out Flea Market Style Magazine. It is awesome! I'm not sure where you are, but it should be on shelves in most stores by February 19. If you have any questions about my shop and the venue (one weekend a month), please feel free to email me. Thanks again.

Nancy's Notes said...

Oh Laura, what a priceless moment for you to see that blooming and just for you, from your precious Mother.

Hugs.

 

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