If you create a garden, do you ever die?

Home saved beans, from Grannies garden just arrived home tonight, tucked into my bag as I was leaving the house yesterday.

I'm not meaning to be maudlin, it's a real question. If you create gardens, propagate plants, sow and keep seeds like these beans, do you ever really die? We've recently lost the official 'head gardener' in our extended family. A mother figure, a friend, a real and wonderful 'granny' to my own children extended our own family greatly, with the addition of this wonderful friendship.

Many years ago, a chance meeting, our first cup of tea as we arrived to stay in her B&B and the tentative question from me, 'Can I look at your garden?' the reply a firm grin and a quick 'Of course! Do you garden?' sealed a firm friendship and many conversations about plants, gardens, children and life in general. For a few years we were neighbours, our family's friendships blossomed. We even got to Wisely together, no mean feat when we were both living on different remote scottish islands at the time! We miss her so. It's been a sad time, a very sad time. But, as we had a stroll around the garden with Grandad before we left for home yesterday, it was very apparent wherever we walked, looked, identified and prodded, granny's hard work was beginning to explode into life. All  around the garden her handiwork very much alive and kicking!

David Austin Recommended Variety - Anne Boelyn

From the pots and the cuttings, to the new rockery, the fruit trees and the herbs, all of her garden, beginning to wake up and bud. Bursting with life. And her roses, one planted for each of her children and grandchildren, newly pruned ready for growing again. She loves David Austin roses. I love that when she talked about plants, her first question would be 'Do you know it?' - a phrase I've copied and often used myself. As we continued our tour, the figs new growth in the heated greenhouse were especially poignant for me.

New fig growth. Copyright http://www.pbase.com/pyanez/image/60829137

They are beginning to break bud and there were tiny fruit appearing on granny's fig trees. Fantastic! She'd propagated a few cuttings last year and I was given one last summer for my own. So when I came home late tonight and had a peek at it on the windowsill, leaves unfurling, coming back into life. My heart perked up a bit, 'granny's fig', beside a multitude of other of her cuttings, seeds, pots, books and magazines. All with such potential, all from her labours and very much still in everyday use. In my bag a new book that I had been given this weekend, as an early birthday present, one of her manuals for life and now my own bible. Very much appreciated, very thoughtful and will be treasured. It has an excellent section on being a self sufficient gardener, a good place to start!

I'll be back to visit in early summer, can't wait to see what's growing and we'll likely sit out by the lavender and the roses and enjoy their beauty. Being joined by the 'head gardener', who'll likely keep a watchful eye and be enjoying her garden with us. Hopefully where she is the seasons are always kind, the weeds are pretty and the insects are all helpful.Tomorrow I've about a kilo of her saved beans to sort, label and get ready for sowing later. She's still got us working hard, that head gardener of ours! I'm sure she always will. X

The children, much grown now, looking over the next job in the garden......direct from the head gardener!