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"Possibility and promise greet me each day as I walk out into my garden. My vigor is renewed when I breathe in the earthiness and feel the dirt between my fingers. My garden is a peaceful spot to refresh my soul." Meems






Welcome to my Central Florida Garden Blog where we garden combining Florida natives, Florida-Friendly plants, and tropicals.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Solace


Maybe it's because humanity, as we know it, began its journey in a garden that we tend to find peace and comfort surrounded by the beauty of nature.

For as long as I can remember being outdoors, taking in the sight of a magnificent sunset, breathing in the salty air along the Gulf Coast, gazing at the full moon, hiking up a mountain side, listening to the sound of a waterfall, or simply taking a long walk are activities that refresh me spirit, soul, and body.

It stands to reason that my own garden is a tremendous source of therapy. Working with soil and plant life inherently brings satisfaction and enjoyment beyond measure.

It's been a week full with emotions I could not have prepared myself fully for no matter how I tried.

After a long battle with cancer and heart issues my one and only brave, courageous, and loving Daddy passed on from this earth to heaven this week. It was a peaceful and restful outgoing for him and I am so blessed I was with him (in his home) his last days.

When I returned to my home it makes sense the first place I went was to my garden. And the next morning I wandered around in it to allow my heart to find peace.

I'm not sure with whom I will discuss the amount of rain we received or the lack of it from now on. It was my Dad who monitored these bits of trivia with me. And the subject was a source of either rejoicing or lamenting together around the need our respective gardens had for a good rain shower.

Dad is the one who kept me supplied with fresh citrus from his fruit trees all winter long and gave me cuttings of plants from his garden which I've shared with you here.

Dad was an especially handsome, hard working man. An avid outdoors man he loved to hunt and fish and he knew every nook and cranny of Florida like the back of his hand.

And so it is that I have found great solace in my garden these days following his passing. It is the place I know I can go to be lost in thought yet keep a grasp on reality. Because it is brimming with life and beauty it nurtures me in times of sorrow. Yet joy equally fills my soul as I remember our mutual love for the garden and the valuable and treasured gifts he shared with me from his.

I'll miss you every day, Daddy... until we meet again in eternity.

35 comments:

  1. I've always found solace in my garden during times of great emotional upheaval Meems. Your Father passed on a wonderful love of nature and gardening that will keep him with you always in your heart. Take care.

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  2. You were certainly blessed to have your Daddy as long as you did and to be able to share his love of gardening/outdoors with him. I hope you soon find peace. Big Hugs.

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  3. What a great loss, Meems. I am SO sorry that you have to bear this. May you feel your dad's prescence in your lovely garden, for surely he will find solace there too. Blessings...

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  4. Oh Meems-sending you hugs.I fear that I,too,will be going thru the same thing very soon,as my Dad is failing rapidly.And it scares me.But you have gained his knowledge and his love for gardening.Take care.

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  5. Your garden is where you will always remember him and talk with him still. I wish you you peace of mind and heart...

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  6. When my Granddad, who raised me, died I was not so lucky to be with him. A military wife, I was with hubby in Kansas. We made the trip back to Texas as fast as we could; but I didn't make it. Granddad was a gardener. He had wonderful vegetable gardens and raised prize winning dahlias. As soon as they told me he was gone, I ran to one of the vegetable gardens, now fallow because of his illness. I fell to the ground and wept. Then I stood up and felt his loving arms about me as if saying goodbye. Today if I need comfort I go to my small garden and walk there feeling his arms once again surround me with love.

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  7. I am so sorry for your loss. I am also dealing with my Dad and Dementia. I also find solace in my garden with great peace and serenity. You have great memories and will continue to each and every time you enter your garden. Take care.

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  8. Meems,

    Your Dad lives on through your love of gardening. My Dad passed away in 1976. He was a gardener also and it's when I'm out there working with the plants that I uwill think... I wish Dad could see this.

    Treasure all of your memories!

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  9. So glad you have found solace in your garden, Meems. I'm sure it is even more of a comfort because it brings up memories of your Dad. You are so lucky to have had him as a mentor and plant contributor, and just to have had someone to discuss the minutiae of weather with. Any time I am longing for an Encyclia tampensis, I think of your Dad passing on that beautiful specimen to you. Yes, I remember that post. I love stories like that, even if not from my own garden.

    Wishing peace and comfort to you and all your family....

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  10. Dear Sweet Meems ~ What a lovely post about your wonderful Dad. You were blessed to have such an earthly father. Yes, you will see him and be with him again one day. What a reunion that will be.

    Your garden is a wonderful, peaceful place to find solace at this time, filled with memories and thankfulness.

    Love and hugs to you ~ FlowerLady

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  11. So sorry to hear about the passing of your father. I can feel your sadness and yet, the garden is such a sweet place of comfort, isn't it?

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  12. So sorry to hear about the loss of your Father Meems. Us girls love our Dads. It sounds like your gardening together makes your garden even more of a haven and remembrance of good times.When I feel troubled I always seek a walk in the woods around here or in my garden too. It is a healing balm there when as you said you can think on things but not feel overwhelmed but at peace. Prayers and take care.

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  13. I am sorry about your loss, but glad that you know you will see him again.

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  14. I'm sorry you've lost your Daddy.
    He was indeed a handsome man.
    I'm glad, though, that you shared your love of the garden. It will give you comfort, in the days and years ahead.
    Take care, and God bless.

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  15. Our gardens are our solace. We find peace with each plant that gives us it's beauty in the form of it's bloom. Even the bloom less one's show us their beauty. All are a sign that our angels {loved ones who has gone before us} are displaying their love to us.
    Much love, prayers abound.

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  16. My heart goes out to you and yours at this time. Thankfully your beautiful garden seems to be offering some solace and lifting your spirits a little. Your Dad sounded like a wonderful person and I'm sure all those great memories of time spent with him will bring some comfort.

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  17. Dear Meems, so sory about your loss. I lost my mom 3 years ago. It has been tough without her. Please remember who much we enjoy your pictures and words of advice. You are so very talented!

    With much love, Karen

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  18. Meems, you wrote such a sweet tribute to your Dad. You're so blessed now to be able to go into your garden and feel him close to you again. It's not enough now but one day it will be. The plants that grow in your garden because of him are even more precious now as symbols of his love that you can touch and watch grow. I am sad for your loss. You will be in my prayers.

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  19. Beautiful tribute Meems. I do hope for the peace that surpasses understanding to fill your heart and mind...

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  20. Thanks for sharing your beautiful tribute to your Dad and touching my heart too with the story.

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  21. I'm so sorry that he passed but grateful that he made you into the woman you are today. A little patch of paradise to return to doesn't hurt either. You're in my prayers...

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  22. Hello Meems, my prayer goes for your dad and you. He did not go away, he just changed dimension/channel. You are very lucky to be her daughter, and your garden is the living proof of your bond. This post is a nice "tribute" for him, i am sure she is smiling at you. I just wonder why i have been consecutively reading 3 posts which somehow have loneliness! I am thinking of the messages they bring for me! God bless Meems and take care!

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  23. I am so sorry for your loss.
    sherreetales.com

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  24. My dear, Please know I am thinking of you and sending love and prayers your way. I am so glad you have your garden~It's such a good place to take our hurts. xxoogail

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  25. It was because of you Meems I passed on a Florida Butterfly Orchid that blooms on Fathers Day. My daughter-in-love's father had passed and it brought her great comfort knowing it would bloom around Fathers Day each year. Bless you in your sadness.

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  26. thinking of you at this time. Sorry to hear about your father's passing. Sounds like he was very special to you!

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  27. Hi Meems, So sorry to hear about your dad passing. My Dad, who passed 11 years ago of metastasized prostate cancer, was my weather watcher. He too was a grower of fruit trees, especially Japanese Persimmons. I can't eat a persimmon without thinking fondly of him. Knowing you'll see him again is a great comfort. God Bless You. Dr. Bob

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  28. Oh Meems. I will be praying that our Heavenly Father will bring you comfort each day at each moment you need it.

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  29. Thinking of you and sending you prayers from our home in Argentina now. I know you will see yor daddy again and that your faith will sustain you. He has given you and all of us, via you, a wonderful legacy. Abrazos y Besos!

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  30. Meems...Thanks for sharing such a beautiful tribute to your dad. I'm not surprised to hear that your garden is a place of solace, and I know it will be a healing place for you, as well as a place to feel close to your dad. I'm very sorry for your loss! Blessings to you and your family.

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  31. Oh, Meems: Hugs from me too... It will be comforting to know your Dad continues living with you through your garden, and your love for gardening... I am so glad that you spent those last days with him too. That is something that scares me even by thinking about it especially both my parents live far away in China.

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  32. (((Meems))) I'm so sorry I didn't see this earlier. These days of grief are hard to walk through - I don't know how people who don't know the Lord make it. Praise God for the hope of Heaven. Sending love and prayers your way, sweet sister. Much love, Patricia

    (I'll be thinking of you today as we drive up to Lake Placid for an appointment.)

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  33. Meems, I add my condolences to those expressed by others. My you continue to find comfort in your garden.

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  34. I'm so sorry for your loss. My love of gardening came from my father, and I often picture him outside puttering around and tending the garden.

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Have a blessed day,
Meems


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