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| Hoe and Shovel Garden June 2014 |
The more we live/mature the more we realize life is most often sweet but once in a while it deals out a bit of bitter. When Mr. Meems and I were making the hard decision recently about whether to undergo a major house-remodeling project or to move away from our home of 30 years, we knew for certain that leaving my garden wasn't an option. At first the idea was unthinkable. It wasn't in the realm of possibilities. No, not even a consideration. I could not sell my house which would mean I would leave my garden behind. We would bite the bullet and invest in an
overdue renovation of our home. It was a decision we had contemplated for a long time and put off for even longer.
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| Favorite bird bath |
To be fair and to complete this story let's rewind to last year. We bought the house
next door April 2013. Yes, you read that right. The house
next door. The one
right next door to mine. Our longtime (recently widowed) neighbor bought a smaller, more convenient home (for him) and he sold us his house. Our overall plan was to update/rejuvenate
the house next door with new floors, paint, and a few other essentials. We were to move into it
temporarily (while ours was being remodeled) and then sell it. We moved into the
house next door November of 2013 when the renovation on it was complete. That was the plan. It was going to be a sweet blessing not to be living in our house during the remodel.
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| Water feature in the Circle Garden |
A side note is needed here: since April 2013 I've been gardening on both lots. Each of them is a little over half an acre. In the new garden I was mainly keeping up with weeds and trimming. But last fall (when we moved into the
house next door) I just could't help myself. I started planting some rooted cuttings from my garden into the garden
next door. The barren planting beds were begging for my attention. I'll talk more about that fun in another blog. For now it will be less confusing if I keep this about the timeline progression of the two houses.
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| A view of my back garden June 2014 |
I think you know where this is going.
It's a really long story. For the sake of this blog, the short of it is that what I thought was the unthinkable became the reality. Have you ever noticed how time and circumstance have a way of easing into our hearts and minds and ever-so sneakily whittling away at some of the *things* we think we already have figured out in life.
A month ago we signed a contract to sell our home of 30 years. That means the garden too. I know. This is the bitter part. Bitter sadness at every thought of leaving my garden was overwhelming in the beginning. Okay, y'all know I don't like emotional drama. This was dramatic! At times I have thought I might melt into a pool of sorrow never to be recollected. It catches me off guard. It's kinda like parts of my heart are being ripped out of me while my soul watches from a distance. I had said yes to the sale with my mind and mouth, but my heart was really clinging at first.
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| Penelope the flamingo |
Selling our home (and garden) was an
unexpected turn of events. The renovation project was
finally underway. We had just completed some major foundation work on our home (due to some ground settling issues) and the last nail in the new roof was hammered. Just before the contractor was scheduled to start the remodel we thought the time was right to do some additional investigating for future planning. We spoke with a Realtor in reference to selling the house
next door. (The house we bought to live in temporarily just in case you're lost in all this).
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| Birdhouse Garden June 2014 |
The Realtor gave us numbers and figures to think about for both houses in the course of our appointment with her. Within the week she called us to ask if she could bring some people by to look at our house. The one
we weren't going to sell. The one we have lived in for 30 years, raised our children in and the one with
the dream garden I built with my own sweat and energy one plant and one border at a time.
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| A shady sweep of 'Postman Joyner' Caladiums in the back garden |
Fast forward to a week later. The savvy young couple who looked at it ~ even though it wasn't for sale and there was no pressure on us to sell ~ wanted to buy it ~ just like it is ~ without the completed renovation.
We agreed to sell it. Our closing is scheduled for next week. Just like that.
It's a perfect house for their little family. They are super excited about the house and the garden. We are excited to have them as our new neighbors.
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| The fire pit seating area I built February 2014 |
It was agreeable to everyone that we could move most of my garden accessories (pots, birdhouses, bird feeders, fire pit.) And then there were some plants that were pass-alongs or gifts from special people. I've rooted a load of cuttings from favorite plants also. Needless to say it has been an exhausting month making all that happen so quickly. More about that in another blog.
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| New (current) house has an open deck we rebuilt that overlooks my new back garden |
It isn't as difficult to think about leaving the house as it is about leaving my garden. The memories made in that house will be forever with me and my family. It is much more of a challenge to leave the garden. I always pictured myself still toiling in it when I was 90.
My emotions about leaving the garden have gone from devastated in the beginning days to hopeful as time passes. This is a new journey in our lives. I'm beginning to see the bright side to starting over. My new garden has some great bones (mature oaks, palmettos, and established shrubs), but after that it is a fairly plain pallet. There isn't nearly
the amount of shade that I had before so I'm making big adjustments concerning sun conditions and
right-plant, right place locations. I see it all as a new opportunity.
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| A small glimpse at my new garden. 'Celebration' Caladium in the foreground. Bulbs planted May 5. Photo: July 3, 2014 |
I'm going to take my time to really think out exactly how much and what I want to do in this garden. This house is a little smaller and the lot is a little bigger. We have a large open deck now instead of a screened lanai with a pool. I'm looking forward to this new adventure. Often in life you just might not know why things happen like they do. So we put on our big-girl pants and make the choice to turn the bitter into sweet. One thing I do know. I will create a garden wherever I am and it will be a reflection of me ... warts and all. Stay tuned for a sweet future ahead!
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| This quote really touched my heart when I read it recently. |
Happy gardening,
Meems
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