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Snowshoe wall hanging with old mitten

Memory garden

Gardenjunky, member

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The cobblestones are from the streets of downtown Minneapolis.  In the 1960's my dad hauled home the bricks in the trunk of his rambler.  He was making a brick patio for our backyard.  When my dad passed away a year ago and we sold our family home, I had a fabulous idea for a memory garden.  My family and I went to my childhood home and brick by brick took up the patio which had been there for 45 plus years.  We hauled the bricks home and my husband spent the better part of the summer creating this wonderful garden/memory space for me. 

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Comments (16)

MelHow writes: You obviously understand the value of memory. Another wonderful piece of memorabilia. Posted: 6:49 pm on December 18th

CountryGardener writes: Carol,
Thank you for your kind words, It is a lot to digest and I was so close to my parents and they were so much a part of my everyday life it is a huge change. I would love to take a look at anything you have to offer.

Debbie Posted: 8:59 am on November 29th

Gardenjunky writes:
Debbie

I am so sorry to hear of your parents passing. That is
a lot for me to digest. My heart goes out to you. These
are going to be some tough days ahead for you and your
family. I am not sure if you have some good information
on the grieving process. I have some great information
passed along to me from the hospice center. Please
let me know if I can pass it along to you. It helped me so much.
Be good to yourself and allow yourself some time to feel good again.

Carolyn Posted: 9:33 pm on November 26th

CountryGardener writes: What a wonderful Tribute to you Dad!!! This brought tears to my eyes and gave me a wonderful idea. Both of my parents just passed; Dad on Sept. 28th and Mom on Nov. 20th and mom was from Alzheimer's so I know the road you went down. I love to garden so this would be a lovely way for me to pay tribute to both of them. This holiday season is going to be a tough one losing both of them so close together but with my families love and suppport and remembering all the good times we had and knowing the two of them are back together again will help get us all through it.

Peace and love to all of you this holiday season.

Debbie G Posted: 1:18 pm on November 26th

junkermidge writes: Thank you so much for your very kind offer. I am at total peace with the situation. It's been almost a year and previous to that he spent 3 years in a home suffering from
Alzheimer's. He was anxious to go and my sorrow was small compared to my joy in knowing where is new home is. At this time of year, more than missing him, I am keenly aware of what a great Dad I had and realize what a blessing that is. More and more I'm finding that a lot of people never experienced that.
Thanks again for your project and for posting it so others can share in that. If you haven't already done so, I would encourage you to contact your local newspaper and suggest they do a story on it. I think it would make a great human interest piece. Take care.
Noreen (Midge) Posted: 10:33 pm on November 24th

Gardenjunky writes: Midge

Thanks so much for the nice comments.
Those first holidays are some tough times to get through.
You really have to dig deep. I sure found out what I was
made of through my dad's illness and death. My thoughts are
with you. I will have to tell you, that garden space has
been so cathartic for me. I have spent a large portion of
my summer in that space, planting, mulching and talking
out loud to my dad. I highly recommend it. Find something
that works for you and heals you.
I have a great letter that was sent to me on the one
year anniversary of his death. It was sent from the hospice
area of the hospital. I would love to send you a copy, if
you would like. It really helped me.
Carolyn Posted: 5:44 pm on November 24th

junkermidge writes: What you did was awesome, project wise and sentiment wise.
This is my first Thanksgiving without my Dad, too. Now, you have a daily, visual reminder of him and what he was about. Totally cool.
Midge Posted: 3:42 pm on November 24th

Junk_Sophisticate writes: I absolutely love your gorgeous garden and it makes me kind of teary-eyed. I just think it is such a terrific idea and I'm sure your dad loves it too.

Candy Posted: 8:01 am on November 24th

MimiToria writes: My dear friend, Carolyn, your daddy would be so happy and proud of your memory garden Tom and you created in memory of him.
What also is cool is that so many of your plants are recycled as well and were gifts from your sisters gardens, my garden and other friends of yours.
It looks just beautiful!
And by the way, welcome to the posting part of the site and for becoming a member and not only an observer. You are a great contribution to the site.
Gretchen Posted: 10:51 pm on November 23rd

TGTG writes: Carolyn,
This is just beautiful and so meaningful. I feel there is no better way to remember someone than to plant something in their honor and watch it grow. Thank you so much for sharing this.

JennyK Posted: 10:29 pm on November 23rd

fellowjunker writes: Just beautiful Carolyn!!! Welcome to the Junkmarket site--so nice to have you posting.
xojanis Posted: 9:48 pm on November 23rd

Chovey writes: Very, very lovely....!
cynthia Posted: 6:54 pm on November 23rd

CottageElements writes: Carolyn, thanks for posting for the first time! Your garden is wonderful and what an awesome tribute to your Dad. How great that you could bring your some of your memories with you to your new home. I think my Dad brought some of those bricks home, but they were made into a fireplace so they stayed with the house. Would have loved to have had some. I'd love to see your garden sometime in the summer. Thanks again!

Lanette Posted: 6:18 pm on November 23rd

LuAnn writes: Your father would have been proud of this. How beautiful and made in the memory of your father. What a nice tribute. We all should have memories like this.

LuAnn Posted: 1:41 pm on November 23rd

Gardenjunky writes:

Thanks for the nice comments Elaine.
My husband is a Machinest by trade. It is the first time
he had ever attempted something like this.
I have to tell you, that doing this project ruined his golf
swing for the rest of the summer.

Carolyn Posted: 1:21 pm on November 23rd

misselaineous writes: WOW...what a beautiful garden, and what a wonderful tribute to your Dad. The plants are lovely, and the brickwork done by your husband looks so professional...is he a brick layer by trade? I've rescued old bricks, but have never come up with anything on that scale! Lovely! *elaine* Posted: 1:11 pm on November 23rd

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