My grandma really loved gardening, and she created several beautiful gardens all over my family's island. When Grandma passed away, my mom took over the care of many of Grandma's gardens with the same love and affection. Even though she wasn't as passionate about gardening herself, it was one of her ways of honouring Grandma's memory and keeping her spirit alive.
When Mom passed away, my husband Jeff took on the responsibility of tending to the beloved gardens. He has continued the tradition my Mom and Grandma began, and I am incredibly grateful for his dedication. The gardens are all beautiful, and his connection with my mom touches my heart.
Grandma's favorite place on the island was a two-person swing chair, where she would sit and admire her beautiful garden while gazing out at the lake. This particular garden had been neglected over the past decade, so last summer, as a legacy project, I asked my family to help me rebuild it. It was an excellent project that brought us all together. We planted a 4ish-foot by 8ish-foot garden and I added four stepping stones, each featuring a different symbol: a dragonfly, a ladybug, a hummingbird, and a butterfly.
These stepping stones symbolize important people in my life. The dragonfly represents my mom, the hummingbird my grandma, the ladybug my closest aunt (Auntie Debbie), and the butterfly represents me. My mom was fascinated by dragonflies. Most people shoo them away, but Mom always reminded us how cool they were, encouraging them to land on her. Grandma used to hang hummingbird feeders and was always thrilled whenever she saw one. Every time I see a hummingbird, I think of Grandma. My Auntie Debbie was obsessed with ladybugs. Her entire house and garden were filled with ladybug decor, and her nickname from Grandma was "Ladybug." The butterfly represents the cycle of life. Just as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly through tender love and affection, these three women helped me become the "butterfly" I am today.
If you’ve lost someone dear and are looking for a way to stay connected to their memory, I encourage you to find a tradition or activity they loved and make it your own. Whether it’s gardening, cooking, crafting, or simply spending time in a place that was special to them, these acts of remembrance can bring comfort and keep their spirit alive in your heart.
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