GARDENS

I grew up in an apartment and had never lived in a house until we moved to Evanston in 1974, just a few days before
our fifth child, Rebeccah was born. I had no idea what to do with the yard, the raised beds, the endless lilac bushes along the fence. With a new baby and four small children, I had the winter to think and plan and learn. While I definitely made mistakes along the way, gardening became a favorite hobby of mine which I shared with my new friend Jeanie who remains close to my heart to this day. Each May, we would go to the garden sale by local gardeners and add to our gardens, a lovely memory.

From Evanston, we moved to Long Grove, then a near north Chicago town house, then Dodgeville, then Madison, then Fitchburg. No matter where we lived, I managed to create gardens in small and large spaces. I planted a grove of fruit trees and five perennial circles in Dodgeville, peonies in Fitchburg. The downtown garden was small but held a cone shaped hydrangea and a small stone path lined with dianthus. I loved them all.

Now that we live in Milwaukee, I could care for the gardens on the plaza and those that ring the community. There are opportunities here, but to me, it's not the same. I loved the planning and the digging, not the weeding.

A few years ago, I was lamenting with my granddaughter Mackenzie that I miss my gardens. Her response was so loving and beautiful. "Grandma, you've created all those beautiful gardens for others to enjoy. That's a gift." 

I'm left with a few pots on my balcony and some indoor pots that seem to take care of themselves. That's enough for me now. And when I look at photos of gardens past, I think of Mackenzie's loving words and smile.