Reunion Garden

Mandy made the comment at our Family

Reunion that it was so much fun seeing

how each of my siblings showed their love

and support for me in different, special ways

while we were all together.

My brother, Lynn, is the acknowledged

gardener in the family. He not only has

a green thumb, he has one of the most

beautiful gardens at his home in Houston.

I, on the other hand, have a black thumb.

I am terrible at gardening even though I really

like beautiful flowers.

Since I was in the midst of cancer treatment

right before the reunion, I didn't feel like sprucing

up the front flower bed, but you know how it is,

company was coming and I wanted everything

just right. Well, inspiration hit.

I e-mailed by brother, Lynn,

and asked if he would "enjoy"

creating a flower bed for me while he was there.

I knew what the answer would be.

Of course he would. Now that's a great brother.

We had a gift certificate from a local nursery

that had been given to us by the elders and their

wives at our church when my daddy passed away

and it was just waiting to be used by a master gardener.

It turned out to be a Lynn Aven family affair.

Lynn and my nephew Matthew went to the nursery

and picked out perennial, native to Colorado

plants. None of those annual

plants for me. Lynn says I need something

that will come back up each year.

Does he know his sister, or what?

On Sunday afternoon, just before they

had to leave to go to the airport,

Lynn and Terry, Matthew and Emily

(better known in our family as Lady Em)

created a beautiful flower garden

for our enjoyment.

I got last minute lessons on the importance

of watering and deadheading.

Thank you Lynn, Terry, Matthew and Lady Em.

I am enjoying the flowers immensely.

And yes, they are thriving!