Little did I know this time last year that we would be selling our home. In 2004 we did a major renovation to the adjacent lot beside our home, turning it into a landscape garden. Fast forward to 2019: we turned over the keys to the property on June 8, maintaining all the landscape beds and lawn until that time.
Earlier today, Mr. P. & I met with the new owners of our home for a walk through of the property's mechanics. Although we closed in February, the new owners just now took possession from the realtor. They arrived in the country two days ago from Hong Kong (the husband grew up in our area and they are returning to the US permanently). Since June, the lawn had been maintained by our grass service, but the landscape beds had not been tended to at all. The walk through of the landscape garden made me sad, as the weeds took every opportunity to flourish through previous paths.
Garden posts were regularly featured on my blog, and this video tour (below) was filmed by me on July 23, 2018, almost exactly one year ago. Viewing this video this morning was bittersweet.
During today's visit, I couldn't even bear to take one photo. I identified weed from plants purposely planted while walking the grounds, demonstrating how easy most of the weeds would be to pull. The new owner (husband) and I couldn't help ourselves, and started pulling weeds, most of which are taller than most of the planted shrubs in the landscape right now.
I do have plenty of garden photos I took from winter through late spring of the garden, and I busied myself with transplanting a few plants to my sister and daughter before the move. Those will be my new garden escapes.
I'll choose to remember my former garden as it was this time last year. I plan to send this video to the new owners so they can see its beauty and potential too. And if the new owners would like some advice in gussying up their garden, I may volunteer a few hours there, too.
Have you ever gone back to a former home and seen your garden, in particular? How did it make you feel?
Earlier today, Mr. P. & I met with the new owners of our home for a walk through of the property's mechanics. Although we closed in February, the new owners just now took possession from the realtor. They arrived in the country two days ago from Hong Kong (the husband grew up in our area and they are returning to the US permanently). Since June, the lawn had been maintained by our grass service, but the landscape beds had not been tended to at all. The walk through of the landscape garden made me sad, as the weeds took every opportunity to flourish through previous paths.
Garden posts were regularly featured on my blog, and this video tour (below) was filmed by me on July 23, 2018, almost exactly one year ago. Viewing this video this morning was bittersweet.
I do have plenty of garden photos I took from winter through late spring of the garden, and I busied myself with transplanting a few plants to my sister and daughter before the move. Those will be my new garden escapes.
I'll choose to remember my former garden as it was this time last year. I plan to send this video to the new owners so they can see its beauty and potential too. And if the new owners would like some advice in gussying up their garden, I may volunteer a few hours there, too.
Have you ever gone back to a former home and seen your garden, in particular? How did it make you feel?
Rita C. at Panoply
Your garden tour is just beautiful, Rita. I can only imagine the maintenance that I'm sure was done with a lot of TLC. I can only imagine how hard it was to see it uncared for. Hopefully the new owners can give it the same love you did. I really don't like to go back to see our previous homes. It always makes me weepy, no matter how happy I am in the new place. There are always sweet memories that tug at me. One house we drove back by had totally been ruined with a horrible paint job. After that I just hate doing it. Our landscaping is such a mess right now, and I'm just biding my time until we can get people here to do the big stuff. It's overwhelming. Your gardens must have been a huge time committment for you; almost like a part-time job. What are you doing now to fill up that time? Loved seeing your video, be blessed, friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debra. I've traded gardening for housekeeping, with less stellar results I might add.
ReplyDeleteOh Rita, my heart is aching for you! Mother Nature is beautiful, but she sure perseveres on her own path doesn't she? I only got to tending, i.e.weeding, the beds in early July this year. May was lost to my dads passing and we were on vacation for three weeks in June. And, there had been record rainfall. Although most of the weed came out fairly easily, it was a month long slog just finished --- and new ones are constantly coming up. It's dismaying that after years of careful tending, in one season the weeds can run amuck! Perhaps you can also so past blog links on your garden, by season, with the new owner too?
ReplyDeleteI'm now a subscriber on YT yeah! How did I miss that video, I'd have watched it a lot by now. I can only imagine how depressing it was to see all your love and hard work generate weeds. But think of it this way, if they didn't want to get the garden back to all it's glory.....would they have asked you to come identify the weeds? I'm betting that in a month you will see a huge difference! Also, something else to think about. I know you love gardening and are missing your yard. Something came up in a meeting at my house with some garden club members. To join a garden club you just need to love gardening. You don't have to own a yard. A lot of the stuff we do is to beautify our community by adding containers and gardens in the community fairgrounds and parks. Maybe you could join one and still get to garden but on a much smaller level. Instead of your 12 or more hours a week in a garden club you are 3 to 4 hours as needed with friends.
ReplyDeleteSomething to think about...
Christine, your suggestion of community gardening is a good one. I will consider that, but really, my daughter's garden should be plenty to piddle in. Thanks.
DeleteRita, your garden is beautiful. I know you must be heart sick to see it the way you have described it. Hopefully your video will inspire the new owners. We have not been back to see our home we left in VA. and its beautiful gardens. However, my dear mom had a magnificent garden, truly it is hard to put it in words. When we sold her home and she went to live in an apartment, I can't begin to tell you what we saw, not only to her garden but also to her home. Thankfully she never saw what happened. I have thought of her words many times over the years. She always said, "When the gardener is gone - so goes the garden." I do hope you will be able to help them see the beauty of all you created. Keeping you in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSandra, I love that wise saying your mother passed along. So true, so true. Thank you for your comforting comments.
DeleteRita that is so sad.... We are under contract for our house. Like you, I'm still maintaining my garden. The Hubs and I were working in the backyard yesterday and he asked if I was going to leave my hummingbird and other feeders. Of course I replied! The birds will still want to eat. Then he ask if I was going to leave feeding instructions for the new owners. I thought he had lost his mind, of course they would continue to feed them just like they would continue to take care of the garden. After reading this I'm not so sure. Your garden was so pretty, it must be hard to see it in such disrepair. Hopefully, they saw the beauty of your garden on your tour and will want to keep your garden alive. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteTammy, I considered leaving some things too, but in the end, hummers really need attention paid so the water doesn't get all nasty, so I passed my feeders, another birdbath (sold one), flags, and many other hardscape items (and a few plants) on to my sister, niece, daughter and friends. I only left one decorative light that was in ground and part of the landscape lighting, one tuteur with a blooming clematis on it, and one flag pole with the US flag hanging. :)
DeleteThat was a lovely garden tour! I’ve often wondered how I’d feel if we left this house. I know I’d never have the gardens that I do now but I know even if I could only plant in some containers I would! It’s hard to go back isn’t it. I went back to see our first home and well let’s just say it was disappointing to see. I’m sure since they’ve showed interest that they will maintain the gardens. Big hugs, Liz
ReplyDeleteWonderful garden tour! Oh, I am reading the words about the weeds and I can hear that twinge of sadness that the gardens are not being kept as good. This is always hard. Good thing you have images and videos to remind you of how they were.
ReplyDeleteAng, thank you. You're right. The photos and videos have just increased in value to me! I cherish them.
DeleteHi Rita
ReplyDeleteYour garden was so beautiful. All your hard work of keeping a beautiful yard showed in the video. I hope the new owners will feel the pride to continue all the hard work you began.
Hugs
Kris
So pretty Rita...and I know how hard it is to leave your lovely gardens. I always enjoyed looking and sharing your flowers...I loved your lavender. hugs always
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kari. I'm trying to enjoy my garden now through use of the melamine plates I created from photos taken, and I'll be spending time in my daughter's garden where I transplanted a few from my garden. Hopefully, I'll keep the memories forever.
DeleteRita, I am sorry I am late in commenting, we have been on a business trip and added a little vacay to it. I loved the garden tour video, your landscape gardens were always so beautiful and I looked forward to every garden post your shared. I can imagine how painful it was to see all the weeds, I hope the new owners realize what they have and will keep it as beautiful as you. Sometimes, I think all the toil and sweat in creating a garden is only appreciated by the one who does it. I can’t imagine moving from our place in the country, but it will happen when we can no longer keep it up. I know it must be hard, but you have an exciting new season of life. Enjoy my friend!
ReplyDeleteOh Rita, I have been wondering how you are coping without your garden...I'm sure it is a precious as a child you've nurtured...revisiting it, especially when it has been neglected must have wrenched your heart, but I'm thinking that if the new owners asked you to come and give them a tour, that they are enthusiastic about keeping it beautiful! I'm sure it's one of the reasons they bought your home, so hopefully you have passed it along to caring hands!
ReplyDeleteJenna
I rent a house to young couple that I went by to visit recently. The previously lush grounds are now in ruin. A very disheartening feeling.
ReplyDeleteOh, Liberty, I can only imagine how you felt. Mr. P. & I have both been landlords, each separately at different points in our lives. Although the properties served us well, it was continually disappointing to see others not live up to the standards we wanted.
DeleteThis got me thinking Rita. I love gardening also, but there is something to be said about not having to worry about a garden. Joe and I have spent a lot of time on our garden this summer, which is a little slice of paradise to us and our friends that visit. I'll see what the future brings, as I think I would also enjoy a simply landscaped backyard with fountain.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I can certainly appreciate that! I pared down container gardening to just two last year in an effort to minimize watering.
Deletemy sister and her husband had the most beautiful garden.within 2years the young lady who bought there place had turned it all into lawn broke my sisters heart.
ReplyDeleteðŸ˜ðŸ˜ I fear that and even more, such as tearing out the surrounding brick wall we built that ties the adjacent lot with the home!
DeleteRita your former gardens are so beautiful. I am sure it is heart breaking to see weeds. You have babied those beautiful gardens with your heart and soul. Lovely landscaping is the crown jewel of homes. The whole package. I do hope the new owners take the steps to honor all of your hard work. The video is a wonderful keepsake and inspiration for all.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got divorced I had to leave my marital home, and the hardest part was leaving my gardens. The house is through the woods behind my mom's house (and yet my ex stomped his foot and refused to leave....don't get me started) and last year I finally snuck over there one day when he wasn't around....it was so sad to see my gardens after so many years, it breaks my heart. I knew you would have a really tough time leaving your gorgeous gardens, Rita - be strong my friend, you can create a lovely deck garden in your new home. Just think....no weeds!
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed your video garden tour Rita and I'm sure it will inspire the new owners to see all your TLC and landscaping beauty at its peak. I know it had to be bittersweet to revisit it a year later. I think it's a good sign the husband was pulling weeds along with you. It's always hard to go home again. My MIL was an avid gardener and so distraught to see the changes the new owners made after they sold their home of 30 years, ripping out shrubs, a huge daylily bed and a beautiful Japanese Maple she and my FIL had planted.
ReplyDeleteI think going back to any former home can be somewhat traumatic or at least hard -- especially if they changed something you really liked, painted it a weird (to you) color or let something go. I'm sure they'll bring the garden back but it had to be so difficult to see the weeds. Glad the new owner was helping pull weeds out, though -- that bodes well!
ReplyDelete