Expanding the turnaround garden was one of my goals for 2023. When I started working on the turnaround 10 years ago, my plan was to have a whole circle filled with lush plantings.
We put up the flagpole and a brick pathway (that I envisioned someday overhanging with greenery and flowers). Then I filled half of the circle and realized that the turnaround was so large that it basically swallowed up every plant I put there. So one half became a flower garden (which has filled in decently, though some of the gaps are filled with weeds). The other half we mowed.
Then this spring’s patio project came along. The garden around the well was going to be torn out and reconfigured. So almost exactly a year ago, Ellie and I quickly moved a bunch of plants from the well garden to the unplanted half of the turnaround.
We still have a long way to go with this garden. The turnaround is still big and still eats plants. Our transplanting has been very hasty, so we dig holes wherever and don’t pull up the sod in any methodical or expansive way. But, most of the plants we moved survived, and we’ve since added a few more. It feels like a garden is starting to come together.
We’ve spread some mulch and made a little stepping stone path to the flagpole.
We also added two things this year which changed the significance of this garden.
The first is my Dad’s bike. This is an old bike with no gears, no handbrakes. I remember my Dad riding it (often with one of my siblings in the baby chair behind his seat) when we’d go for family bike rides. It’s rustic, like the farm, and makes a nice sculpture in the garden–and is a happy reminder of my Dad.
The second addition is a memorial tree for Matt’s Mom. Matt’s Dad’s friends wanted to plant a tree in her honour, and Matt’s Dad decided he wanted it to be at the farm. (His friends also planted a tree here for Matt.) So a few weeks ago they brought a strawberry hydrangea tree and added it to the turnaround.
It’s special to me to have these reminders of my Dad and Matt’s Mom, two people who are so precious to us.
The garden is a memorial in another way. Ralph is buried beside the flagpole. I like that they are all together here at the heart of the farm.
Home on 129 Acres 
Good morning Julia,
I love what you are doing with the gardens around your home. Having a memorial gardens is a lovely/special garden for sure. That is lovely your friend and Steve planted a strawberry hydrangea tree in remembrance of Audrey. We have one of those trees in our front yard which I just love. Audrey would comment on it too saying how much she liked it.
I planted 16 cloves of garlic in a small space at the foot of our deck steps. It was Steve and Audrey who first told me how to grow garlic as they were very generous over the years in giving us some of their home grown garlic. Iâm grateful to them for this as when I am planting my little garden I reflect on them both and the friendship we shared.
Inside our curio cabinet is a special handmade/decorated ostrich egg that my aunt made for me. She and her husband stayed with us for a few days when visiting my Mom and Dad, my sister and myself/husband when they came to Canada on holiday from their home in New Zealand in the early 2000s. My parents, who were married 65 years, passed away within two months of each other in 2015. My sister had a small memorial service at her home where we sprinkled their ashes (together) in her garden. We both kept some of our parents ashes. Iâve kept my small bag of ashes inside my Motherâs nieceâs unique ostrich egg with a picture of my parents and a note inside.
Enjoy the wonderful memories you had with Audrey as you enjoy the beauty of the strawberry hydrangea tree in your memory garden for years to come.
Have a wonderful day.
Pam
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Your egg sounds like a lovely memorial, Pam. And I like your own connections with Audrey and Steve in your own plantings. Take good care.
It’s very special to have a memorial garden. Yours looks lovely. We have had memorial trees and plants in our various gardens, but have had to leave them behind. That’s not the easiest, but I like the idea of leaving the places we were a little better than we found them, so that’s how I think of that.
I can imagine that would be hard, but you have a good perspective. I like that we have a plaque for Matt’s sugar maple tree, and people 100 years from now might read about him and know a little bit about him from his tree.
That’s wonderful. I always read the plaques I see on benches and such when I’m out walking. I like to think about the person or people whose names are on the plaque, as well as how much they must have been loved by those who had the plaque and bench commissioned. It makes for a beautiful tribute. Sometime I would love to have that done for my parents.