Musings: In My Mother’s Garden…
“The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.” Honore de Balzac
Musings: In My Mother’s Garden… Bachelor’s button
Musings: In My Mother’s Garden… Frangipani…
Musings: In My Mother’s Garden… Gaillardia
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.
She never existed before.
The woman existed, but the mother, never.
A mother is something absolutely new.
Rajneesh
As we approach Mother’s Day this coming Sunday, May 13, many of us will turn our attention to the special yet complex relationships we had/have with our mothers. Some are fraught with difficult moments, some with divine exchanges, and yet, others with no memories because of circumstances that led to an abbreviated childhood or the death of a loved one. My relationship with my mother is not perfect… However, she instilled in me a love for gardening; a love for beautiful tropical blooms with exotic names; Frangipani, Bougainvillea, Bachelor’s button, Hibiscus, Jacaranda, Gaillardia , Caladium and many, many more. For this post, I thought I’d share some of the flowers she planted, nurtured and celebrated when they bloomed. They were like children; bright, capricious, eager to please, and temperamental… For now, I wish her and all moms a Happy Mother’s Day! More below
“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” Abraham Lincoln
Musings: In My Mother’s Garden… Jacaranda
Musings: In My Mother’s Garden… Caladium
Musings: In My Mother’s Garden… Bougainvillea
Nobody knows of the work it makes
To keep the home together.
Nobody knows of the steps it takes,
Nobody knows-but Mother.
Anonymous
I have vivid memories of afternoons spent in the blazing sun, dressed in sleeveless pinafores, straw hats strapped to our heads, little red buckets and shovels in our tiny hands, planting new seeds and pulling weeds, as my mother instructed my siblings and me on the finer details of fertilizing a garden. Those were idyllic days before the war. Before the war rearranged our lives and our relationship, we looked forward to our gardening lessons and she tested us often on what we had been taught. I remember now, that the first flower I learned by name and recited as often as possible when I chatted with my friends; imaginary and real was – Bachelor’s Button. When I bought my first home and became a mom, I made sure to plant a few of those colorful blue blooms in my yard… Such is the power of a mother’s influence. Over the next several weeks, I will share blooms from my mother’s garden. Have a Happy Mother’s Day!
*Please bear with me as I continue to catch up on your blogs and commenting… Thank you all for your patience! 🙂
For More: Women’s Lives & Issues
Positive Motivation Tip: Our mothers give us memories and lessons to carry, and we must pass them on to others.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All photos Frangipani, Bougainvillea, Bachelor’s button, Hibiscus, Jacaranda, Gaillardia , Caladium, via Wikipedia and/or via Flickr.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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Trackbacks
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you are a good mother too, congratulations!
TY and blessings to you too! 🙂
ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚…Sending sprinkles of Love to all: Happy Mother’s Day! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
Beautiful – thanks Elizabeth for sharing those wonderful photos and messages.
Lorraine
TY Lorraine! I wish you lots of love on Mother’s Day! 😉
How beautiful. It must be a good day.
TY! Have a Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
Oh, how I love the beautiful photos of your flowers…My Mom left me with the same love…and Bachelor’s Button is one of my favorites… My husband laughs when I say the names of certain flowers as we drive along and I spot one I like… He asks, “How do you know their names?”…and I answer, “Mom”…~mkg
Isn’t it remarkable how many of us have similar memories of mom in the garden…? TY! and Happy Mother’s Day!
Beautiful flowers! Happy mothers day to you too!
TY Madhu! Happy Mother’s Day blessings to you. 😉
gorgeous flowers
TY and have a wonderful Mother’s Day! 🙂
What beautiful words and photos. Thank you for sharing! It was fun to start my day reading this 🙂
TY Joy and I wish you many more Happy Mother’s Days! 🙂
And you as well 🙂
Lovely flowers! Happy mother’s day to you Elizabeth!
Right back atcha. TY! Yes, they are so pretty! Happy Mother’s Day!
Lovely…Mother’s Day is one of my favorite days to remember all the women who have influenced me especially my mother and grandmother. Thank you for the beautiful photos and Happy Mother’s Day!
TY and yes, many have influenced me too. Happy Mother’s Day to you too! 😉
My mom was an avid gardener, as well. I have many precious memories of planting with her, touring historical gardens, etc.
Happy Mother’s Day, Eliz!
Isn’t that amazing that several of us have had that experience…?. Plus, it must be generational too… I doubt my kids generation will be out gardening… TY! Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
testing
What are we testing? 😆
Your posts are like this fantastic meal of your favourite food – I love it – thank you for conveying and sharing your wisdom!
Thank you Julie! Have a wonderful Mother’s Day! 🙂
Thank you Elizabeth and a blessed, peaceful and Happy Mother’s Day to you . . . your mother planted a lovely garden in you! 🙂
TY and so did yours too! Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
Reblogged this on MushyKitty.
TY for the re-blog K! Much appreciated and have a Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
beautiful words and lovely pictures. I always love visiting your blog home, welcoming, warm & inviting. Just the way a home should feel.
Shanti
TY Cheryl and the sentiments are mutual. Have a Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
Daughters we are all. And mothers too. Thank you, Eliz!
True! Have a wonderful and Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
Beautiful post Elizabeth. One of the more wonderful things a mother can instill in her children is a love of flowers and nature. Happy Mother’s Day to you.
I agree! Have a Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
They are beautiful. I remember growing up as a child in Ghana, these flowers were all around me, growmig wildly and in people’s homes. Now, flowers are no more around except specially cultivated. What is common now is the artificial and imported natural flowers from South Africa and elsewhere, but treated, to keep their lifespans longer.
A Happy Mother’s Day to you, Elizabeth and to all mothers out there.
It’s a shame to see the change and how the younger ones no longer want to garden… Have a Happy Mother’s Day! 😉
Elizabeth, The photos of the flowers are stunning. It’s wonderful to have such sweet memories handed down from your mother, isn’t it! Lovely post and Happy Mother’s Day!
TY and yes, the memories are sweet… Have a Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
How nice of you to share with us the flowers that you mother planted. And it’s such a delightful series of colours and beauty. My favourite picture is the one with the Frangipani. They are just amazing.
I love that one too… the colors are so delicate and the picture bright… TY! Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
Beautiful tribute and pictures. My mom loved flowers too and I have adopted same. It is nice to acknowledge that not all mom and daughter relationships were perfect. Mine wasn’t either so thank you for including us all. Happy Mother’s Day!
B
Yes, I agree with you. This can be a sad day for some and I want to keep that in mind too That we honor all who hurt too… there are good and bad moms sadly. TY! Happy Mother’s Day! 😉
Love the photos Eliz, so colourful!
Mothers have a great influence in our lives which stays with us forever – the names of the flowers she taught you about are still with you, and that is precious.
My mother loved her garden too, especially her rose garden which she tended to with great love; it was her pride and joy. She also taught me many names of flowers which I still remember.
Happy Mother’s Day Eliz! xx
Hi Barb,
What a lovely surprise to see you here… it’s been so long… I’m finding out that so many of us had moms who gardened and we have memories of it…. Wonderful! I hope you don’t mind, but I amended the comment to add my correct name… I’m Eliz… I love the name Joss but it ain’t me. 😆 No worries, I did the same thing too. Have a wonderfully Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
My apologies Eliz – I’d just commented on Joss’s post and must have still had her on my mind!
No worries! I called Julie, another blog friend, Jim! Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
colorful and beautiful 🙂
TY Joshi! Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
Such beautiful flowers.
TY Colline! Have a Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
Beautiful flower photos today!
TY Leanne and have a Happy Mother’s Day! 😉
Thanks for sharing the lovely blooms. My mother has a large yard filled with beautiful colors! I just love seeing all her lovely flowers.
Gorgeous blooms, E! Happy Mother’s Day.
When you have a few minutes, I just watched a short video you will love . . . featuring bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies:
http://planetwonder.org/nature-ted/
Okay, will do. TY! 🙂
Great garden. I forget what it looks like to have green things growing in the garden.
Gorgeous flowers! I’m so jealous. 🙂
Lovely and colorful flowers …. they are always perfect for Mother’s Day.