Garden Photo of the Day

Friendship and Flowers

Theola Barnes understands the personal nature of favorite plants, and what friendship means. What a wonderful way to bring flowers and friendship together!

"I gathered plants and starts from a friend that owned a Christmas Tree Farm in Enumclaw, Wa. She had been collecting plants for 63 years.  Alice recently had to move to a care facility. I wanted to save some of the plants that were special to her. We had taken walks around her place to check the flowers that were in bloom.  She collected from friends throughout her life.  Now I walk around my place to see what's blooming."

 

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Comments

  1. user-3565112 10/16/2015

    What a beautiful way to honor & remember a friend. I. The best of luck to you & your friend. Joe

  2. clculp1961 10/16/2015

    Yes, a very nice tribute to Your friend, Alice. I have been looking for fish to float in my yard for the past 6 months, Where did You get Yours? I really enjoy the photos and thoughts You are sharing. Any chance to send some seeds or cuttings, my way :) Doesn't hurt to ask.

  3. User avater
    HelloFromMD 10/16/2015

    What were some of your friends' favorite plants? I received plants too from a friend who moved a 1000 miles away. I don't have many of the perennials anymore but I do have 2 beautiful tree peonies to remember our friendship.

  4. User avater
    meander_michaele 10/16/2015

    This is a lovely sharing, Theola and warms my heart. I'm sure your interest and follow through in collecting up plants starts and seeds from her favorite plants meant the world to Alice. I hope she will get opportunities to walk with you around your garden and get to see some familiar "faces".

  5. Chris_N 10/16/2015

    A wonderful story, Theola. It's fun to look at your pictures because so much is going on. Also, I'm a sucker for Siberian Iris so I keep going back to look at that one.

  6. wGardens 10/16/2015

    What a lovely idea and wonderful to bring it to fruition. Iris are one of my faves~ beautiful!

  7. User avater
    Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 10/16/2015

    Great story, beautiful photos, charming garden: So glad you sent these in. It's so nice to have plants from friends and I do hope your dear friend can come to visit her heritage in your garden! If not, I bet a laptop or iPad with photos will do!

  8. User avater
    LindaonWhidbey 10/16/2015

    Sharing gardens among friends makes them so much more special. Great gardens and beautiful story. Thanks for sharing with all of us.

  9. GrannyMay 10/16/2015

    When friends share plants from their garden with us, those plants are always more special, keeping alive the memories of the friend and the friendship. Thank you for sharing.

  10. GrannyCC 10/16/2015

    May and I love to share our gardens. t is wonderful to wander and admire our hard work and any special plants we have. It is nice to see our pleasure through another's eyes

  11. user-7007076 10/16/2015

    I love the story behind your garden! Flowers and shrubs that come from family and friends are always SO much more special! I think that is why we gardeners must love to share our plants so much. As we pass thru our gardens they become photo albums of the cherished people in our lives.

    It is neat how plants also become bridge to developing new friendships. Yesterday I was so delighted to have neighbor who passes my house daily and noticed my love of gardening share 20 some canna lily bulbs. I'd never met her before and her generousity and thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated, yet also it became an avenue to a new friendship. Within the day five had already passed from me onto another new acquintaince.

  12. janeeliz 10/16/2015

    Beautiful story....it's so very special to share beloved plants with friends. I am sure your friend in the care facility is very happy to know someone , especially a friend, is growing and loving some of her dearly loved flowers.

  13. Cenepk10 10/17/2015

    Yeah... Good story & great shots of great plants !!!!!

  14. Cenepk10 10/17/2015

    Ohhh Daisies !!! Always make my day & they're heirloom plants. Workhorse beauties. Poppies ! I buy them in spring ... Did I mention I buy them ? The seedlings, I mistake for weeds & pull. They never come back. Giant aliums, poppies & delphiniums taunt me. And lupines. They just wont stay around. They say: I dont think so... & adorn a more habitable garden... Sigh.

  15. Cenepk10 10/17/2015

    Was assuming the pink beauties were poppies...

  16. Cenepk10 10/17/2015

    Rose campion ? My favorite! Next to evening primrose.... They appear to bully - but die off, gratefully- otherwise... The world would be COVERED in them :)

  17. Cenepk10 10/17/2015

    This ? Cant be...

  18. Yeddi 10/17/2015

    My garden walks always include a special warmth toward those plants gifted from friends or purchased by relatives - the rose from a son, Siberian Iris from a good friend, the silly paving sculpture or a container - all provide the extra dose of love I cherish.
    Well done.

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