Bittersweet

Dad's amaryllis in full bloom with four flowers

The weather was slightly chilly and windy on Saturday but it was time to get moving on dad's garden. The crocus were no longer blooming but the grape hyacinths were in full bloom, the tulips were ready to pop, and the hostas were peeking out of the soil. Our goal was to get the center garden cleaned out and rototilled so that mom could plant grass seed if she wanted to (I am still working on the sod idea.)

Mom was working so it was the first time I went into the house by myself since dad died. When mom was working he would usually be either in the backyard weeding or in the basement watching TV. Often I like to just pretend he is in the basement but I couldn't do that on Saturday. Messing with dad's garden...yikes....he didn't like anyone  messing with his plants.

Plants in bags in Tanzania

When it started to sleet on me I was sure it was a sign that he wanted me to be careful with all of his plants. He was pretty meticulous about getting them potted perfectly. However, when we visited Tanzania he saw how the garden stores just potted the plants in left over bags. He must have had the same idea because he had lots of bags saved. He also had a lot of pots too!

Nathan back for another load of compost

Michael, Nathan, Isabella, and Faith came to help. GGpa would be so proud that Nathan hauled away the entire compost pile by himself. It hadn't decomposed much so it was better suited for the Ramsey County composting site.

Compost pile all cleaned up!

It was cute....Nathan asked Mike when he would be done with the pile. Mike replied, "When you feel you have done a job to be proud of, then you are done." He looks pretty proud of his accomplishment!

There were old bushes to dig up and get rid of but there were many awesome flowers. Daisies, peonies, foxglove, hens and chicks, crocus, tulips, irises, allium, and many more!!

Bella picking rocks and Faith moving all of the plants. 

Michael saving one of gramp's tulips

We decided to dig up everything we could from the center garden and then move it to a "parking lot" garden in my yard. That was Sunday's job. To get all 200 plants replanted! Keep in mind-there are more plants to clean up after this center garden!!

Mike rototilling so that Granny can plant some grass!

A couple of years ago my dad wanted me to bring his deer to my house. He has had these deer in his yard for as long as I can remember! Taking them from his yard just seemed wrong because they were something he loved. Dad and Mom would take turns painting them throughout the years.  Then when he got sick he said, "Kuff we got to get those deer to your house" then he would explain how Mike would have to get a log and roll the deer on them across the yard so that we didn't break them. Then in the hospital, after they told him he wasn't going to beat the cancer, he said, "Kathleen, don't forget to get those deer in your yard." They were really important to him and he wanted them to be enjoyed. SO..the center garden needed cleaning so that we could move the deer too!

The deer before we rototilled. 

The kids were excited to show Granny how hard they had worked to clean up the yard but it was getting late so they couldn't stay. When mom got home she was surprised how much we had accomplished but there were also tears for dad's missing garden. There was joy too, knowing that the plants would be carefully replanted in my yard and for years to come they would be shared with my sisters, the grandkids, and anyone else that wanted a piece of "Riley's Garden."

Some of the plants ready for moving

Sunday my sister Jamie and her husband Lyle went over and did MORE work! They dug up bushes and cleaned up some of our left over mess. It isn't done yet! You're always in our heart Pops...and your plants will be in all of our gardens too!