This is Dad's Bed.
After a week spent filling it up a couple of barrow loads at a time, it was finally ready and settled enough to plant into yesterday.
It started the day looking like this.
After carrying the plants, tree and bird bath over from the house, I played around with where things would go.
With plants lifted from his previous bed at our last place, a couple of new plants and baby plants, grown specially by Mum all in their chosen places, everything was given a really good drink .....
... before being covered with a good layer of mulch. The oak chippings from our own felled oak tree. Dad would have approved, using such special chippings from a magnificent tree that we intend to use every part of.
Dad's view down the hillside and across the valley. He would have loved it , he would have sat and drunk in every tree, bush, hedge and movement of animal, insect and bird life. He would have watched the traffic going past, bustling about in their rush to get from here to there, and he would have relaxed and breathed in the calm of the hillside in comparison.
He would have loved it.
I'm sure he does love it.
Because Dad is there .... his ashes, in their oak box are buried snugly beneath the Heuchera.
He always slept on the that side of the bed, and one day as is Mum's wish, she will join him on her side. But for now I will savour having Dad safe with us, close to me as I work on the hillside and in the tunnels growing food and flowers just as he loved to do, as we keep our promise to him .... to take care of that which he treasured most in the world .....my Mum.
Sue xx
That's lovely, Sue. When my father died mum planted a cherry tree in her garden to remember him by (his ashes were scattered elsewhere as he wished. Some years later mum came to live with me and we bought another cherry tree for my garden. A few years later I moved from that house, leaving the cherry tree behind but determined to get another to keep remembering both my parents ( mum had died and he ashed were scattered with my father's). Last Christmas my nephew Simon gave me garden vouchers for Christmas and then went with me to choose a new cherry tree which I have planted in memory of my parents and also my sister (Simon's mum) and which I can see from my favourite chair. A liivng memorial is such a joy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post! I`m sure your dear dad is enjoying the views!
ReplyDeleteSue that is absolutely lovely.....the planted bed, your Dad's ashes buried there and your thoughts about how much he would have loved the evidence of all your hard work and the gorgeous views beyond. A wonderful memorial to him.
ReplyDeleteits lovely.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tribute . I think we all do something like this so they can be near us. I have two rose bushes that Mum bought me when Dad passed away and a climbing rose that a dear friend bought me when Mum passed away and a beautiful peony that I have had 35 years from my Grandma so there's a little bit of my family in my garden too. As you say he would have loved the view and hopefully if it is true still is :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post and what a fabulous view.
ReplyDeleteLovely memorial ...
ReplyDeleteAaaaah.
ReplyDeleteJane xxx
How wonderful, your Dad is lucky.
ReplyDeletelovely,
ReplyDeletei have tears in my eyes.
That is such a beautiful memorial to your dad, and especially meaningful with Father's day tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYou know I never even realised that I was doing it so close to Fathers Day, I did it on the 13th June because that would have been Dad and Mum's 55th wedding anniversary. I was determined to get it done for that date.
DeleteThat Fathers Day followed so closely is wonderful serendipitous fate :-)
Lovely, lasting tribute to your Dad. Beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteHugs xxx
Such a wonderful thing to do. I'm sure you will feel his presence whenever you are in the garden. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteJean x
That is such a lovely thing to do, and just in time for Fathers Day
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful. X
ReplyDeleteThat is really lovely, Sue.
ReplyDeleteAh Sue - you made me tear up. My Dad's ashes are in a very similar place on his and Mum's allotment. A very fitting resting place x
ReplyDeleteA really beautiful post Sue. And a really beautiful place for your Dad to stay near you. Bless all Dads. Xx
ReplyDeleteSue that is truly wonderful x
ReplyDeleteThats lovely and such a nice idea.
ReplyDeleteThats beautiful, brought a tear to my eye as I lost my dad last year. Mo x
ReplyDeleteThis is such a nice idea and you have made a lovely place for remembering your father. What a wonderful view you have from your place.
ReplyDelete