Rose Goldfinch. A memory of a childhood garden plus all the plants I got from other people.

A friend and garden club member names all of her plants after the people who gave them to her. She can now remember all the names of the plants in her garden!

We recently gave several varieties of bamboo plants from a friend's garden in Walnut Creek, CA. to the Woodland Park Zoo. They originally came from our friend, Ellen who had no children to share her love of plants and gardens. She was very generous with her many friends and we all were given cuttings and divisions from her large and eclectic collections. Her old house (more than 100 years) was demolished after her death and her 80+ year old garden was totally destroyed to make room for a MacMansion. I am sure that Ellen is smiling when thousands of visitors to the Woodland Park Zoo, walk by and admire her boos. She will be a part of the zoo forever.

I brought divisions of irises and peonies from my grandparents’ gardens before the house was sold after they died. I really enjoy seeing them bloom each year as a reminder of them.

I also have some plants that while they aren’t direct descendants of others’ plants they remind me of some of my early garden influences: magnolias for my childhood neighbor Mrs. Sherman who had stunning mixed shrub borders and a magnolia that still was in the garden of the house some 40 years later, the last time I visited the area; lilacs for my parents, who while not interested I gardening as a verb, still took us out to the Holden Arboretum every spring when the lilacs bloomed; and roses in memory of my dearest friend’s parents who always had roses and always seemed to be puttering around in their gardens.

I love everyone's beautiful stories!

Personally I don't currently have a lot of 'memory' plants. I have the Tiffany rose, for my best friend and sister. We've been best friends now for nearly 20 years, we met when we were children. I did have the rose Josephs Coat (or maybe Just Joey I can't remember) for my youngest brother but it died over the winter. Any orange or yellow flowers are for my husband, they make him very happy so now I've loaded the garden with them. I also have a few perennials, and some lovely hostas and daylilies that remind me of Roxanna here since she is the one who generously gave them to me. Every time I walk by it's a nice reminder :)

I plan on getting the rose Teasing Georgia for my husband (who's from Georgia), Charlene deMonaco (for my mother, Charlene), Felicia (for my other best friend, Felicia). I'd like to get plants (particularly roses) for my brothers and father, just haven't found anything inspiring yet.

I'd also like to get something that reminds me of Salem where my husband and I met and built our life together. Lastly, some sort of plant that would represent my wonderful kitty babies (individually or in general) because I am full-on a crazy cat lady haha.

Thank you all, I think these plants give our gardens soul. There are many gardens in our neighborhood that I call 'trophy' gardens. Planted by landscapers, very tidy and clipped into submission - but lacking soul! Unfortunately our homeowners design committee (called the snoop committee by my husband) thinks the trophy gardens should be the standard. Some of us independent folks refuse to follow their uninspired code of compliance! I do try to keep the very front garden along the sidewalk super neat and tidy but the side yard and back yard are packed and vibrant with my hydrangea collection and other shrubs and perennials.

ophoenix, I'd like to think that a couple of 'memory' plants in your garden might remind you of me :-) I know I have several that make me think of you every time I see them.......

When I was growing up there was a Philadelphus, mock orange, planted right next to my bedroom widow and the scent of that shrub when in bloom would permeate my room on a warm, late spring evening. It was heavenly!! I planted one in my old garden for that reason but it was too far away from my window to produce the same results.

I also plant sweet peas every year in memory of my mom. They were her favorite flower.

GG ....Every single one! lol Would you be surprised to know that hydrangeas were one of my mom's favorites? lol I learned gardening from kindly neighbors, Mrs Hill, Mrs Singer and Mrs. Wolfstone. My mother's idea of gardening was to make a shallow trench - using a broom handle at the top of the rockery to our house. She would toss in seeds while standing and kick the soil over them and firm up by stepping on the line of loose soil her shoe. Water? the next rain would do the trick and she had the most beautiful border of zinnias, snapdragons and marigolds! More Memories.

My grandmother had hardy fuchsias, so do I. I have many plants shared from friends over the years, many from gardening/pond friends on the internet that I never actually met. I have Huecheras that have cultivar names same as long deceased cats Zipper and Marmalade also other plants with cultivar names I find meaningful or fun. Hosta Captain Kirk : )