Last Fall after removing our pool,the ground space was turned into a vegetable garden to be readied for this Spring.I had a deep desire to take one side around the edge of the oval,and put in a flower garden.My husband was diagnosed with heart disease in July and I found that by working on this patch,I had an outlet to vent my frustration and worry. I had incorperated a bench into the scheme where I could sit and just ponder over things.I had some plants to put in but there is alot of space to plant more this Spring.My thoughts keep going to that new garden and I feel that I will get alot of help from it this year.My husband passed away last Oct.Now all our plans are gone,I will go back to work and I will get the gardens back into shape this year on my own.
As I think back to this new garden I now know that it is a healing garden.Just having this space will be my go to space to get strength to carry on.
So now I know why I had this overwhelming urge to create this garden,it was a survival tactic!
-- Southwestern Ontario Canada Zone5b
9 comments so far
Radicalfarmergal
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3982 posts in 1401 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 448 days ago
My condolences on your loss, Countrygal. I hope your garden does help bring you solace, peace and strength in the coming year.
-- "To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves." M. Gandhi
MsDebbieP
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13898 posts in 2138 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 448 days ago
my condolences…..
the healing garden, I am sure, will be a true blessing in your life.
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
sharad
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1544 posts in 1355 days
hardiness zone 11
posted 448 days ago
Very sad to hear the loss of your dear husband. Time is the best healer and time spent on your gardening will do it for you.
Sharad
-- Bagwan-- “If someone feels that they had never made a mistake in their life, then it means they have never tried a new thing in their life”.-Albert Einstein
justjoel
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897 posts in 1518 days
hardiness zone 7a
posted 448 days ago
Since my mother was an avid gardener, gardening has been therapy for me too since I lost her two years ago this month. I understand completely, and am grateful for it.
-- There's a box?
Eklectic
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1819 posts in 1938 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 448 days ago
I am so sorry for your loss.:(
This garden is/will be your “heart garden”, your very special place!
-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a
daltxguy
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778 posts in 1235 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 448 days ago
A garden is all about life and it will bring great comfort. So sorry to hear about the loss.
-- Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves. - Thoreau
jroot
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4812 posts in 1768 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 446 days ago
I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your partner in life and your closest friend. My neighbour recently lost her husband quite quickly to cancer, and it has been difficult for her, but she has “dug in” and is working at her gardens as well, and finds it very therapeutic to be dealing with nature and her living plants as they live through their cycle of life. It is interesting to see how some plants live a long time, while others of the same species don’t. We humans are not that much different. When our time comes, our time comes. We can celebrate life, and mourn our losses, but we still need to be strong and go on ourselves. Working in the fresh air is very good for us, and gives us time to meditate as we do so.
I really like the idea of changing the pool to a garden. Did you break open a drainage area and then fill it in? I can just imagine the amount of fill needed, and then of course the top layer of excellent soil and mix you could put in on top. This could be your healthiest garden, in memory of your husband.
I am still in awe over your brugmansia plants, as shown on your avator. Mine are in the basement, and dining room, and loft. The ones in the basement under lights are producing flowers as I write. The scent is amazing. It reminds me of my mother’s perfume when I was a kid, and it gives me a flush of wonderful memories.
Countrygal, you are in our thoughts as you go through this difficult time.
-- jroot ....... Southern Ontario .......... grow zone 5A ...................."Gardening is an exercise in optimism." ....... . . Author Unknown
MsDebbieP
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13898 posts in 2138 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 446 days ago
Jroot—that was beautiful!!!!
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
Bon
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7357 posts in 1918 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 446 days ago
I am so sorry for your loss Countrygal.May God give you the strength to carry on with your garden and all other matters in life and may you find a great peace with your new garden.
-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more