On This Special Day....

...I Honor Thee

 It's been almost four months since we've lost our Mom.  

And those passing months have felt like an eternity.

 

We (my four siblings and I), are still dumbfounded,

unable to grasp how she was diagnosed with end stage liver failure.
There were no indications of her illness.  It happened so fast.

I'm still hearing those world crashing words...she's gone.

 

My mom was extraordinary.  We admired so how she built a new life.

In a whole new world. And made it look so easy.

My love of gardening comes from her.

 

With all the moving around we did, she always created a beautiful garden.  

She grew food, flowers and happy children.  

She taught us kindness and hard work by example.

Our relationship was never stressed but I would be remiss if I didn't
admit that at times, her unsolicited I-know-best advice
would cause me to roll my eyes.

(I bet my girls do that now!)  

It was tough living cross-country...not being able to spend time with her

other than a week's visit home, every other year or so.  But our early

morning calls kept us close.


She wanted the best possible life for her children
and she was so proud of us, and her grandchildren.

I've finally come to terms with our huge loss but just when
I think I have it all together, it takes but the merest thought of her
and the hot rush of tears quickly overcome me.

 

Then I remember where I acquired my inner strength. 
I smile and breathe a silent prayer.  Thank you, Mom.

 

Your voice, laughter and spirit will forever be with me.

I dedicate this loving post to my wonderful siblings,
Nancy, Homer, Glenn and Noel. 
And to my amazing daughters...Amanda and Emma.

Rest in Peace, Theu Prefontaine.

May 6, 1943 ~ January 16, 2021

Reflections...

There's nothing like a year end post to make one pause, reflect and give thanks.  2017 certainly was a milestone...my first season as a 'flower farmer/designer' was AMAZING and I am beyond grateful for how wonderful it all turned out.
(Isabel March Photography)

The process of harvesting blooms at dawn became a zen-like ritual I could
hardly wait to get out of bed for.  Seriously!

(Seth David Photography)

Learning how and when to cut certain blooms, how to process them,
to provide the longest vase life, was truly a trial-and-error process.
And I am still learning!

(DHM Photography)

All those long hours of planting, pinching, weeding, watering really paid off as I was able to harvest enough stems to provide lush, healthy and colorful bouquets for the Farmer's market on Sundays from mid-April to mid-October.

10-14 hr. days were the norm, and quitting time came only when my legs and back gave up, in utter exhaustion.  I knew it would be hard work but...oh man!  Guess when I'm surrounded by beautiful flowers, breathing fresh air, how can I complain?!

 Especially when customers, like sweet Olivia,
love and appreciate my flowers like this?  So cute!

 

So with a full season of growing for market and a few wedding designs behind me,
I'm forging ahead and growing even more flowers!
Anyone have extra sunny space in their yard to rent me???

3 weddings already booked for 2018 and a second (mid-week) farmer's market
in the works, it's going to be an awesome year!
The garden is now in deep sleep under a cozy white blanket but I can't
wait for the explosion of color come spring.

Plantings this fall included many new varieties of tulips and hardy annuals...
already establishing their roots under the snow. 

And, of course, that coveted first handful of blooms
from my favorite vine, sweet peas!
I mean, who can resist their intoxicating fragrance?

As always, thank you, garden friends, for stopping by.


I wish you ALL a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous and Love filled New Year.
Catch you on the other side!
~Lynn

Happy Belated...

...New Year!

Late last summer, as I toiled away in the garden, an idea took hold.

What began as a gentle tug and whisper grew too loud to ignore.
So, I did some research...

and, I got started...growing MORE flowers!

I have always loved creating arrangements for friends, co-workers,
or even just for my own dining room table.  
Using fresh picked flowers right from the garden made them even more special.

So why not get more resourceful and broaden that creative side of
my love of gardening?  Makes total sense, right?

Growing flowers strictly for harvesting and designing on a weekly basis
will have it's challenges, I am sure.  But I am ready to give it my all.

I hope you'll continue to visit and enjoy reading about
my new adventure as a flower farmer.

Happy Belated New Year, friends!
(All photos from a recent visit to Longwood Gardens)

Special Moment of Gratitude...

Thanksgiving has always been a special celebration.

 (Garden tour of Woodcrest Daylilies, PA)
But this year, my blessings runneth over.

As a gardener, I am forever grateful for the nourishing sunshine,

precious rain,

bright stars,

 and even that magical Super Moon,

 all somehow working together to create that perfect bloom...on any given day.

 It does not matter that I'm out there from sun-up to sun-down

or how back-breaking the work is at times,

gardening just speaks to me, my soul,
and I find the whole process completely fulfilling.

So...

it just makes perfect sense that I take my love of growing flowers to the next level.

Creating beautiful, one-of-kind bouquets with my heart and hands...for you!

Here's to a new and exciting flower journey. 
I am ready!

Imagine....

...a garden without color.  Can you? 

 It's one of those concepts we take for granted, isn't it?

 Maybe we would just learn to appreciate the many shades of black, grey, and white. 
There is still beauty in that, right?

But I'm not sure if we would appreciate Mother Nature at her finest

if we lived through life not knowing the rich, rich colors of a peacock.

Or the Fall season at peak...

And would emotions be a 'less than' experience if we could not FEEL
the warm glow of a sunset?

Or the magic of a rainbow...

Hmmm...ponderings as I rose this morning.

All because the last glimpse of my dream was in...black and white!

A dream that I can no longer remember...(don'tcha hate that!)

Our lives are made richer (and much more interesting!) with the presence of COLOR so as I go through my day, I will doubly appreciate what my eyes take in and I'll send up a prayer of thanks for the joy I feel and knowing that life is going to be a little sweeter today!

Here's hoping you have an amazing day of kodak moments!