Have you ever explored an old abandoned garden? I have not-until recently when I visited my daughter in southern Alabama. What a rush of feelings I felt seeing a much loved garden now neglected and overgrown but still growing and still blooming.
bThe 'Secret Garden' was located behind this large overgrown hedge of privet. Have you ever thought to peek behind such a monster? Have you dared?
Behind the hedge you will find a long abandoned old home site with a falling down house that has been overtaken by the homeless. This ten acre home site is smack dab in the middle of several subdivisions. Developers have circled the wagons and are trying their best to get their hands on this beautiful land that lays claim not only to the old house, but to old garden gates, a still functional chicken house and other structures as well as what I believe to be an heirloom garden. The garden was amazing.
My sixteen month old granddaughter Adella was not as impressed by the garden as I was. She, instead, got a kick out of me eating a Cheeto. Each time I would pop one in my mouth I got this cute smile. We should all be so easily amused shouldn't we?
Her mother (my daughter Christine) took Mr. Fix-it and I over to this garden to look at the plants. I was able to identify several plants to include: laurels, cedars, camellias (in full bloom), daffodils, spider lillies, and an unknown plant that smelled strongly of onions but which had a flat leaf. I am still not sure what it could be but will try to find out. As I walked through the garden I thought of the long ago gardener who had planted the garden. Where is the gardener now? Was the gardener a man or a woman? Does she or he know the garden they planted still grows strongly and blooms? Does she or he care? Was there a vision years ago when each bulb and shrub and perennial was planted in the ground? What will become of the garden? Do others know of the Secret Garden? Perhaps they come there to dream of the long ago gardener just like I did. Maybe they even imagined walking into a stunning perennial garden through the charming old garden gate? I have never felt the pull of gardening so much as on this day....
in the garden....
What do you think about when you explore an old abandoned garden?
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I love seeing the remnants of an old house that is tumbling down, but the forsythia, spirea, narcissus and camellias bloom on. Like you I always wonder who planted them.
ReplyDeleteIs is such a melancholy thing to think of old gardeners.
DeleteHi Tina...Your Granddaugher is just adorable. How sad to think that a gardener planted everything with a loving hand, watched and nurtured everything only to have to leave it all behind. I wonder what happened here? A BIG congrats on your Merit Award!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christy! One of these days I need to do a post on the award but for now I just put the badge on the sidebar. Looking forward to lunch!
DeleteSuch a sweet daughter and granddaughter photo!
ReplyDeleteThat must be a very old garden, based on the house.
Thanks Freda! Yes, I think at least from the early 1900s. It was all lathe and plaster. We could not really walk in it as the floor was caving. It was neat though.
DeleteI too wonder about the abandoned home sites as to who/how these still living signs of times gone by still survive.
ReplyDeleteAdele is gorgeous. Yes, Cheetos are a wonder. I like them.
Great tour.
Oh, the stories this garden must hold! I can understand the feelings you must have had, Tina; you can't help but wonder about the person who lovingly tended this garden long ago. How sad it was abandoned.
ReplyDeleteYour granddaughter is adorable! Hope the Easter bunny gives her some extra special treats.
Thanks Rose! Adella will be here for Easter and geez, I did not even think about the Easter bunny. Uh oh!
DeleteHow much fun to peek inside a secret garden! That was a favorite book from my childhood. Adella (love the name!) is adorable.
ReplyDeleteI have come across several forgotten cemeteries recently and feel the same way about them as a forgotten garden. Once, so loved, treasured and tended by caring hands and now forgotten. But time goes on and even though they seem to fade, the beauty remains....
ReplyDeleteWhat a cutey... And I like the idea of a secret garden. It is hard to see one abandoned though. And even harder to see one destroyed. We built a new house in the woods next to our old house. The new owner who had no interest in gardening or landscaping plowed all my sunny gardens under and planted grass as he had no interest. Or as my wife said "we sold it. It's his. Stop whining....:( "
ReplyDeleteYour grand daughter is a cutie for sure!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure checking out an old abandoned garden. Nothing like that around here but I often see a lilac of some flowers blooming around foundations of old farm homes and barns. Once there was a young homesteader beautifying their little space in this world.
When I explore I think of how it must have looked and who lived there...did they love the garden as much as I do...your granddaughter is precious!
ReplyDeleteYeah Tina, Your grand daughter is precious! Sounds like you had a good visit. Abandoned garden is like life coming full circle. It makes me happy to think of a Gardner planting and maintaining their garden and all the joy it brought to them. Then it makes me sad to think they had to leave it. Herman and I have discussed what would happen to our garden when we have to leave it and we decided to enjoy it it the fullest while we can and hope others will think and feel the joy it brought to us and will make them smile.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna! I really like your sentiment on gardens. I shall remember that well as it is so positive!
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