Have you ever mourned the loss of a garden?

[dugaresa]

I gave up a garden that I tended for many many years to move to a new house. I like the new house but I miss my old garden, it was like an old friend and had nooks and crannies and loads of plants I had reared, received, and nursed.

[blue neen]

1. I haven't in the past, but definitely would now if we had to move.

Like you said, there are many plants, trees, bulbs, seeds, and roots that have been nurtured over the last 17 years. Many of them are vintage flowers and shrubs from my old grandma's and great-grandma's gardens!

We lost two native elm trees to Dutch Elm Disease last year, and we were crushed.

I hope you are able to employ your green thumb at you new house. Good luck! :)

[InkAddict]

2. Sometimes, I think that's why folks go back to see where they

once lived, i.e., there was that Christmas tree we planted - or I wonder if that maple tree I started from a flyer in gradeschool is still there? I wonder how big it's become.

I think sometimes it's about nature's longevity versus ours...

Every night in my dreams
I see you. I feel you.
That is how I know you go on.

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on.

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never go till we're one

Love was when I loved you
One true time I hold to
In my life we'll always go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

There is some love that will not
go away

You're here, there's nothing I fear,
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

[bvar22]

3. I mourn them all.

Your thread prompted some nostalgic reflection.
I have moved around most of my life, but always planted something wherever I have gone.
I've always said "goodbye" and "thanks", and left them behind for those that followed.
I have also inherited some from those who came before me.

The worst experience was watching one that was bulldozed in 2003 by a "developer" who was going to build condos.
THAT was hard to watch....ground under by a gigantic, smoke belching, loud, heartless machine without the slightest hesitation of respect.....and that was the new owner.
The bulldozer was worse.

Ahh....progress. What a wonderful thing.

[EFerrari]

6. I've moved around a lot, too. The last five years (before this move)

is the longest I've lived anywhere in my whole adult life. That means, I've left or lost 10 gardens since 1985. I didn't realize how difficult that was until this last move when they all came flooding back. I remember just about everything that went into each one.

I'm staying with my mom up on her land in the foothills right now. When I left here 8 years ago, I had a rose garden down in the hollow by my place, a few grapes growing on the hillside next to it and a miniature veggie garden that was in scale with the rest of my digs. There was another rose garden -- everything in it was either a real rose or had "rose" in its name -- that I planted outside Mom's office window so she'd have something to look at. And there was the vegetable garden out behind her kitchen. All of it got bulldozed when the county decided Mom's permits weren't right. I couldn't even think about it for years.

The county changed its mind after a few months but by that time, all the gardens were toast. :(

The trees are still here, though. When I lived here all that time ago, it was in a reclaimed little silver Airstream. Since the trailer was so tiny, I bought those tiny potted Monterrey pines they sell at Safeway at Christmas time. After the holiday, those went into the ground and damned if all three of those little guys lived through everything and are 12, 8 and 6 feet tall now. There's also a big curly willow out behind the kitchen that made it and the three flowering trees, two on the hill by Mom's place and one down by my old spot, are still going strong. No idea what their name is. They are droop like willows but have pretty pink flowers, too. That the trees made it is especially cool because when we first came to this land, it was completely denuded but for the chaparral that managed to straggle up somehow.

I walk two dogs twice a day here and on our walks, I found a huge rosemary bush that slipped by the bulldozer and what looks like an offspring of one of the rose bushes. That was nice.

Not sure how long I'll be here so I'd steadily refused the seduction of all this free space because I will not go through the leaving again. But, lol, the front door to my studio is on the main drag through the ranch and I feel sort of naked without a fence or a sign that says, "STOP! I may not want to talk to you at this VERY MINUTE!" So, last week, I went looking for some young scrub brushes and dug up three to replant in front of the door, to train into a privacy hedge. It seemed like a more friendly solution than buying a revolver. And the price was right.

[sazemisery]

4. Every fall.....

I mourn the passing season and the joy my garden has given. And yes I still drive by the old house to see what changes there have been in the landscape. We moved from there 28 years ago.

[ginnyinWI]

5. as I was turning my compost this afternoon

I was thinking how nice it is to have my three bins, throw in all the refuse and out comes compost. And the garden--new and improved this year--really proud of that too. We put in asparagus roots and a strawberry bed this year. So I want to stick around for a while and enjoy those.

[Zoigal]

7. Oh yes. You aren't the only one.

Every time we go up to Oregon, we drive by our "old" place and check out the plants (from the road, of course.) Basically disappointed so far. Many trees and shrubs have disappeared.
Nothing new taking their places. Don't think we're going back. Also have fond memories of my
grandparent's huge garden. Still can envision the entire scene. (And i am eighty)...Sometimes wonder if there might be gardening "genes". :)...z

[Vinca]

8. I mourn the loss of the yearly garden. I grow tons of zinnias and marigolds

in between the veggies and there have been times I've sat by the garden when frost is predicted and felt like crying. This year I collected seeds from the zinnias and I'm trying to grow some lettuce indoors under lights. I'm a nutcase.

[anniebelle]

9. Yes, we moved in the middle of our gardening year.

It was traumatic going off and leaving young plants that we had so tenderly planted and nourished. We now have a garden at our new house that is even better than our old one.

[WhiteTara]

10. oh yes. I haven't had a garden for over four years

and it has been such hardship. I've resorted to barrels and pots and all the other things one does when they have no garden.

I've just got my new one. It is grassed over and a long way to go, but I sure am excited as though I'll be getting fruit, veggies and flowers any minute!