This is what Tom and I worked on Friday and Saturday, but I didn’t take pictures until Sunday because MOSQUITOS. Man, I can’t stand those things.
One time when Aaron was visiting, he asked where he’d be sleeping and I told him a sleeping bag under this tree, and the rats probably wouldn’t bother him much. First he acted like he thought I was serious, then he grinned at me. I like having his little garden in that spot and remembering his grin.
Tom created the raised bed with the stones and filled it with soil. I’m trying out a variety of flowers and ground covers to see how they’ll do. I’m hoping since this is a way to honor Aaron’s memory, I’ll try harder at making it thrive. But it’ll be trial and error until I see what works and what doesn’t. That’s all part of any process, right?
That little elephant planter was a gift from our niece Toni to Tom (she, the Auburn fan and future Auburn student, was kind enough to give him the Alabama mascot!). It has aloe in it, because if there’s one thing I can grow, it’s aloe. I have tons of it from a neighbor and my friend Pat, so anyone gets burned cooking or from too much sun, we’re good. His mom Lisa told me that Aaron loved elephants, so it’s a nice addition to his garden.
This little guy, who some say is a dachshund and some say a basset hound, was a gift from Lynne a few years ago. He has aloe, too. Aaron loved dogs, and he was a volunteer shelter dog walker when he was a youngster. So again, a good addition to his garden.
The plants include lantana, melampodium (a kind of sunflower), begonias, lavender, Irish moss, mondo grass, and my favorite Creeping Jenny, which I honestly wish could cover my whole yard–then I wouldn’t care that grass won’t grow. But I think it would probably want too much water, so I’m going to see if I can keep in under control in the flower bed. Same story on the Irish moss. Again, it’s a process of experimenting, failing, succeeding, more trying. Gardening is about hope–and mosquitos. To my way of thinking, we can use more of the first and way less of the other.
It looks very beautiful … and if you are using a rocky soil might I suggest some hen and chicks? They are easy to take care of, thrive and are cute!
http://www.youngs-garden.com/succulents/planting-hens-and-chicks/
I love those. We have a couple of succulents on the porch–we used to have an entire cactus and rock garden. Then the dogs took it out with much playing. I was always sure Rex was going to be filled with needles, silly dog.
how lovely!
Thanks, Geri!
Thank you Becky for such a lovely tribute to Aaron. Although he didn’t sleep under the tree because of possible rats he would have without them as he loved to sleep outside and camp just like his dad.
He would love the garden.
I don’t know why everyone in our family loves being outside but me. I blame the mosquitos. 😉
You and David sure created an amazing child–such a gift to all who knew him.
Lavender is supposed to repel insects. I’m not sure if that includes mosquitos. I don’t like the high pitched whine of a mosquito as it buzzes around your head. Now I think I’ll stay inside.
Oh, Lynn, aren’t they the WORST when you’re trying to sleep at night and one suddenly comes screaming past your ear?
Definitely!
What a beautiful tribute you have created. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful photos and memories.
Thanks very much, Laurel!
Maybe one day I’ll scale the fence and steal one of those bricks.
I hope you bring your partner in crime, Bugsy Lynne, with you. Aaron would approve.
What a lovely tribute to your nephew. His garden is beautiful.
Thank you, David. When you come back to Houston, I’ll let you work in it. I’m sure the mosquitos won’t attack you.
Very pretty, both in thought and in deed. I see someone above suggested Hens & Chicks, so I don’t have to. Maybe add a few more fragrant herbs, like rosemary and basil? Rosemary’s very hardy.
Thanks!
I do have some rosemary near my porch. And I have some other herbs behind the house that have survived all the crazy weather. As I see what won’t make it in this bed, I’ll replace with the things that I know can survive me and the climate. =)
My favorite, impatiens, never do well in this yard, though in one of our previous houses, they were prolific. My gerbera daisies thrived for a couple of years, then something got after them. It’s always a crap shoot!
beautiful garden, i know how much work that was
lemongrass supposedly repels the blood-suckers – but you might want them… watch the mondo grass (monkey grass relative) carefully – it has a tendency to take over everything!
in a couple of days the heat-lovers will be all you will have until November…
Yeah, if the mondo grass gets crazy, I’m transplanting it–wouldn’t mind having it around the base of the entire garden. Honestly, maybe IT should be my ground cover instead of the 85 blades of grass.
Absolutely beautiful. Can’t wait to see it in person. There may, or may not, be some dust in my eye. Excuse me a moment.
Thanks. =) Hope you see it soon!
That’s a lovely little garden, and an outstanding remembrance. I’ll be sending you some grape hyacinth bulbs that you can add to it. They’re tiny little spikes of blue flowers that are the first things to pop up each spring.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscari
I’ll do my best with them–but you know I’m not very good at this. Still, it would be nice to have something from you.
These are no fail flowers. I bought a little bag of bulbs about 40-years ago for my mother. All I had to do was poke a hole in the dirt with my finger, drop the bulb in and cover it up. (They’re very tiny.) They have been coming up every year since. I dug one of the clumps up today that was on the last legs of blooming since early March. As soon as they dry a bit I’ll drop them in the mail.
Thank you!
What a lovely tribute. Perhaps, since you live somewhere so hot, you can create a Mediterannean garden for Aaron? Or at least use somesuch plants that hale from that region.
Thank you. Everything seems to be thriving, except the plants that the dogs step on when we’re not watching. I thought elevating it would keep them out. Now that they’re getting used to it, maybe they’ll stay out of it.