Saying it with Flowers

Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue wild indigo

Someone left a bouquet of flowers outside Vicki's house today, tucked under her streetside shrub border, way to the right of the Baptisia australis she and I used to compare..hers to mine.."how big will it grow" we wondered and "can you believe it survived"! We weren't close...just garden buddies sometimes, neighbours, friends that smiled when we met, often a hug, but mostly, strong acquittance. We didn't hang around with the same folks but she knew my property well, having been close to the people who owned it before us.

We had a garden open day about six years ago, and she came with her son, who said..(and you don't forget when a young man says this)..."it's a little piece of heaven". My heart melts to remember that, to know, he had that same spirit inside him, and know he felt the same way I did and know, he inherited that from his mom. So long ago it seems. But now, his mom is gone, and we, her community, weeps.

I was thinking of scattering forget me nots in the sandy soil near the stone wall, outside her house. What can one do, when a death has tragically happened and you are so unprepared for it. Loss of life... can we find a way to make that spirit live on in our garden; grow blooms to remember as a testament to a life and love of gardening? The bouquet today, gently tucked, bright spring flowers nestled in snow...clearly they didn't want to impose on the family's grief. Flowers..the gift of love, longing, remembering.