Well, it's been a few years since I've written anything, actually it's been 7 years.  Much has happened during that time.  I lost my Dad in 2008 and my Mom in 2012.  And we started a non-profit for people and their pets, For Paws Hospice, based on our experience with hospice care for my parents.

So, what peaked my interest in coming back to The Gardens Gift?  A request came in from Jon Leger asking to have his site linked to my links page.  It's all about cabbage roses and offers some good how to grow tips.  The pictures are gorgeous and brought back memories of the rose beds my Mom had when I was a kid.  She was crazy over her roses and had several flower beds chock full of gorgeous roses of all kinds.  I tried, but I never quite got the rose green thumb.

I'm not sure how frequently you'll hear from me, but this is a good start.  Jon, thanks for the encouragement and bringing back some fantastic memories for me.  Your wonderful site is now included on my Links page.  Happy Gardening.

More fantastic links for your browsing enjoyment:

How to do things has a gardening and landscaping section with great info on how to grow blueberries, prune tomatoes or creating hanging baskets to name a few. Is that tomatoes or tomatos?

Gardensupermart is now carrying rain barrels and not the usual run-of-the-mill kind normally seen. These are very much like works of art made in Canada. Check these out as well as the other products offered on this site.

Plantopia All natural soaps, bath salts and stationary. Plantopia, Inc. is proud to contribute to the Trees Across America Campaign and is committed to planting one tree every time three bars of their soap are sold. I was lucky enough to come across the owner of Plantopia at a recent Earth Day event. I purchased several of her soaps and I have to tell you they are everything advertised and more. I particularly like the Morning Mint since it smells so refreshing, although my husband prefers Bar None with zero fragrance. Check out their products and, as long as you're buying, get three so another tree can be planted. Happy Gardening.

With everything that's been going on lately I've been stockpiling emails with some great links. Be sure to go visit when you get a chance - they are all worth the time.

• Lawn Care Guide. It's everything lawn related - lawn care, maintenance, mowers and equipment. You can sign up for a monthly lawn maintenance reminder as well as money saving coupons.


• Flower Window Boxes. There's just something about a window box that makes me think of the south. This site offers a nice selection of window boxes that are made of PVC material. They look fantastic and best of all they won't rot away over time. This company will even make them to custom sizes to fit your windows.


• Garden Boutique. Located in the UK, this company offers garden attire, pots and window boxes, and "the pretties" - gorgeous garden accessories. Check out the composting bins, and the wildlife attractors.


• Clyde's Vegetable Planting Slide Chart. A sliding chart developed to help you learn the best time for planting veggies in your area.


• GreenCulture. Everything you wanted to know about composting is on this site. They even gave a composter to Oprah for Earth Day. The best part is that all products on their site are made from 100% recycled materials.


• Aquascape Water Gardens. If you've ever considered having a gorgeous healthy pond with fish check them out. Aquascape is located in St. Charles, IL which was recently declared “The Water Garden Capital of the World”!


• The Gift and Garden Store. A new site offering everything garden related as gifts along with candles and jewelry.


• Circle C Farms. Coming back to those lawn lovers, here's a great place to purchase the lawn of your dreams. You can get either turf grass or even ornamental grasses from this Florida company.


• Waterkeeper Alliance. This group is dedicated to clean and healthy waterways. They support and encourage gardeners to stop using cypress mulch, the clear-cutting of which destroys the coastal wetland forests.

Happy Gardening.

Today is Mother's Day. I was wondering frankly if I was going to be able to celebrate this day with my mom after the last few months we've had. My mother had a heart attack. She was just bouncing back when she had a stroke. The harshest words I've ever heard in my life came from her doctor the day after her hospitalization with stroke. "Your mother is dying. It may be within the next few months or the next few years but her body is shutting down." With those words all kinds of thoughts flooded through my brain. She's 87 and all of her siblings have died around this age from heart related ailments. I don't know what it's like not to have my mom around, for good or for bad she's here. What will it be like? I'm getting older and now I must face my own mortality.

I had a dream roughly two years ago that she had died. Was my mind telling me to prepare or was it just one of those things that go away when we awake. I've never forgotten the feeling of devastation I experienced in that dream and I know there will be a day I will feel it again for real. So where are we now? My mother is very much alive and well. She has a little loss of memory but still very sharp for her age. I sent her roses for Mother's Day. She called to tell me she had never received long stemmed roses in her entire life - it took her 87 years to get them and she would never ever forget how beautiful they were. You know what else? I took her to church today for the first time in over 6 months. When we walked into church I told her not to worry about all the standing up and sitting down throughout the mass. Although it clearly was a trial for her she did it anyway. When I asked her why her response was, "Because I have to. I have to keep moving."

So, we'll see what happens within the next year or two or hopefully many more than that. I pray she proves the doctor wrong for a long time to come. But in the meantime, I still have my mom and we still have Mother's Day every day.

Sufficed to say that's why there have been no posts on this blog for several months. I'm not going to promise to write something regularly because I don't know if I will. Right now my mom has my free time and my heart. But I'll write as I can and keep you updated on her progress. Happy Gardening and for every Mom, Happy Mother's Day. You are loved.