I once had a garden. This is the queen of my garden, the only photo I have left, sadly enough. I’ve lost the name of it too. I can still remember the lovely smell from it.
When we moved there I was absolutely thrilled, this was a totally fresh garden, because the house were just built. I had waited for a long time to have a garden. My already great interest for gardening bloomed out completely.
Oh, how I planned the garden carefully. I read tons of garden books and magazines. I wrote down facts about plants I were interested in, which could fit in to MY garden. I had to think about the frost we get over here too and choose plants that could survive.
I really fronted it as a professional scientist 
. I knew everything, well, not really everything, but I sure hunted up all information I could. I was very effective. I had a lot of different, interesting plants. Sorry I can’t name them here, I can’t translate them and I don’t remember all the names either.
On top of that: the house were located as a neighbour to the plant school – could you imagine something more idyllic? I could actually stand on the second floor in our house and look down at the plant schools all plants, so I had first knowledge over all the new plants they brought in for sale.
Need I say that I was a very regular customer of theirs? That they shouted good morning or hello to me all over the neighbourhood every day they spotted me in my garden? Or that the owner always were joking with me? Or that I sometimes had special deliverys over the fence and could pay afterwards?
There were other features that came with the closeness to the plant school, such as a lot of beautiful butterflies and never have to worry about fertilizing the plants, because there were always the opposite sex of the plants on the other side of the fence. There were also a bee keeping in the fields nearby. Very practical, except one day when the bees did swarm in a tree nearby and I had to take cover indoors….
My garden were growing, but there were several mishaps of course, it was after all my first and only garden. I learned that it’s a lot of things to think about when gardening AND that sometimes the nature has it’s part in it too. There are illnesses, different soil, different ways to handle plants, the early spring sun can be a threat – a lot of things that can destroy a plant.
Even a male cat who had decided that this was his private territory and it’s best to mark that out very carefully by spraying all plants and the garden furniture too and to be even more sure, even the outdoor grill…. Not even the high and dense hedge we planted seemed to stop him. OK, I confess, I did spray back on him a couple of times – with water. I love cats so I didn’t want to hurt him, but that actually helped a little.
Anyway, I had a lot of fun working in the garden. I really find garden work relaxing – if you don’t do too much on the same day, which very often just happened. It’s difficult to stop when you’re having fun isn’t it?
We even installed a very small pond with a fountain. That was fun to watch, because the birds actually were standing in a line to take their morning bath in there. The pond were so small so they didn’t want to bath at the same time. It just looked so funny. Especially one of the Black Birds were always taking time with his bath, so the other birds got impatient and a bit quarrel could occur. But I was glad to have them there, because they entertained me with such beautiful concerts in the mornings and evenings. They are my favorite birds.
Other visitor to the pond – or maybe it was the rocks around it, were spiders, lots of them. If you went near the pond early in the spring, the whole lawn suddenly moved! Hundreds of small spider kids trying not to get mashed! And we did have a frog that came and visited. I love frogs. Especially if they turns out to be a prince. No, I didn’t kiss him
Well, this is not a tale, so we didn’t live happily ever after, my garden and I….
After 4 years of hard work with it and it was beginning to look the way I wanted it, I damaged my back severe when lifting a computer at work. I knew I shouldn’t have done that, but I’m stubborn “this girl can manage herself”. So I had to pay for it. It’s probably gone chronic, I’m not well even after this 5 years that have passed.
No more garden work, not even if sitting down, it was the garden death sentence. Somehow it even was the death sentence for me and my ex-man, which I’m thankful for today, because I would never have met Mr Lifecruiser otherwise!
I don’t dare to challenge my back with garden work, I don’t want it to become worse again. It was a living hell for about 1 year and after that it’s only driving me crazy, so now you know why I’m crazy .
So that’s how I lost my lifes garden…
Re-tired gardeners whisper: So that’s why I’ve joined the Green Thumb Sunday. That’s a kind of garden work that I can do. I’m the virtual gardener in the blogosphere, yeeeah 
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What a wonderful but sad story. It’s really a shame that you can’t occupy yourself with what you love to do – esp. because of a stupid little accident like that.
Am I right that you still actually ‘have’ the garden, only it isn’t looked after? Or did you move house? If you still have it, I’m sure an abandoned, ‘wild’ garden could still look hauntingly beautiful, no? Otherwise you’ll have to hire someone. I’m free
Lifecruiser: Yes, but as the very realistic person I am, I adjust to the reality and moves on. I tried to maintain the garden while still living there, despite the back, but then finally moved when my ex-man and I separated and sold the house. That’s why I live in an apartment now – it’s easier to clean than a house too! A wild garden is very beautiful too, yes. Otherwise I would without doubt hire you as our gardener and I could just point where I wanted you to dig a hole for my precious rose bushes I wanted to plant
. Then when done, we could sit down and enjoy a cold beer and talk about life’s wonderful paths…. *lol*
The flower is very pretty. I am not sure of the name either but maybe someone else will know. Gardens are a lot of work. When I lived further north it took me 3 years to get my garden just like I wanted it! Then we moved and I am starting all over again. It finally is starting to look good after 6 months but a long way to go.
And I agree about the back and gardening. It is not something you want to try now! Thanks for sharing! Have a great day!
Lifecruiser: Of course, it was even prettier in real life. Very big too. Not difficult to take care of either. The garden – the never ending story – like life itself hah?
I’m so sorry about your back…I’ve had two surgeries…can sure identify…
I’m a “virtual” vegetable gardener ;~) We didn’t get time to plant ours this year and I miss it.
I believe your lost flower is an iris…they are the state flower of my state, Tennessee!
My entry is up, too…have a great Sunday!
Lifecruiser: It sounds like you can do that yes. I’ve said no to surgery, since they didn’t give me much hope
and theris too much that can go wrong. Yes, it’s probably an Iris, but which one I can’t remember. It’s a water plant, it’s suited to be planted very close to water.
I have an injury too. I was really lucky. We had built the gardens between 10 and 1 yr ago. Some have been newly created.
My husband and sons said they would be my arms and back if I planned.
They hate gardening but did it for me. They are proud of their work.
Once the spring part is done I can sit on a pad on the ground and pull a few fresh weeds and dead head a few plants. It is slow cuz I can only do a bit.
They guys pick up the slack for me.
I have outlined all the gardens with gardners tarp and mulch so there is a large barrier between the grass and the gardens, and that helps alot.
I am grateful to the guys in my house for helping me with alot of stuff.
Basically I can do 10 min work and they do the rest with supervision.
Lifecruiser: That sounds awesome! Tell them that they are absolutely fantastic from me too
That’s a very caring family, I’ll say. Mr Lifecruiser also have some minor problems with his back, so I guess we’ll never start that way either. Anyway, it could be difficult for us to maintain while we’re away so much. We can’t have it all, can we? *lol*
Very pretty Iris…. Sorry to hear about your back. Maybe time for some potted plant gardening…. When I lived in an apartment, my porch was quite the little jungle…
Lifecruiser: Yes, I would have done too that if it weren’t for the fact that we use to be away for at least a month during the summer season
How gorgeous! My father had tons of iris. Every spring, the light fresh scent would saturate the yard.
The photo hunt each Saturday is so fun.
Thanks for dropping by mine, and I now have the ‘answers’ to who they were.
Lifecruiser: They really are. Yes, I were back and read the answers on your blog, thank you
The Iris has a pure, clean beauty to it. I’m sorry to hear about your back. My husband keeps trying to pick up heavy things like machinery too, and he might feel like he’s 25, but his body lets him know he’s not!
Have a great rest of your Sunday!
Lifecruiser: Yes it has and it did show even more in the reality, the white color was almost shining, incredible beautiful. Oh, I hope he watch out, you never know when it suddenly can burst, like it did for me. Of course, Im more weak, my back has always been my weak point, but anyone can get hurt and it’s no picnic I tell you. Hope he’ll not have any problem. Take care of you.
I believe it is one of the Bearded Irises, think it might be an “Avanelle Bearded Iris”, but I could be wrong.
I sure understand about back pain and gardens. Broke off the tail bone in a fall years ago -( hit the bone on the rounded top that sticks up on my dining room chair backs while climbing down off a highchair), which lets the discs sometimes slip- had sciatic nerve problems with bed rest a few times. Thats why I started my veggie garden up on a frame so I don`t need to bend to work on it. One flower garden is made with cement blocks. The 2 layers of blocks bring it a little higher- so less bending. Using the garden seat pillow I am able to sit on the blocks to work in it for short periods at a time.
I enjoyed reading about your garden. I can see how much you enjoyed it.
Thanks for dropping by my blog. give my best to your Mom.
Lifecruiser: I don’t know if the english name would be something similar, but I don’t recognize that name. I believe I would recognize it when I see it, but I could be wrong
Och that tail bone accident sounded no fun at all. I’ve had some fissure in the tail bone once and that hurted for over a year. It’s a difficult place to have pain in. That sounds smart, to build up the garden to you. Thanks for the greeting to Mom, I will.
I think your flower is a German Iris (Bearded Iris) as they can grow quite tall. They usually bloom in June- sometimes early July and then the flower stalks die down and only green leaves are left for the rest of the year. Lovely while they last.
Your start of your garden sounds similar to my own story – When we got our house five years ago, we started with some indoor renovations but that first winter I sat down and planned out my garden layout and researched all of the plants that I wanted to put in it. (I had measured the yard in the fall and I used graph paper to do my layout).
At least half the plants that I have in my garden went in that first spring and fall. Over the following two years I added the rest of the plants and moved a few around to get things just right. Now most of the heavy work in the garden is during Spring and Fall since it’s maturing.
I’d always helped my parents with their gardens as i was growing up. Two at the house, and two huge gardens at the cottage, but I never knew I truly had a passion for it until we bought our house and then it just grew. Now it’s one of my favorite things and since my garden has turned out so nice it’s also one of my favorite places to spend time.
Unfortunately I’ve been very sick with my Crohns in the last two years and this year my garden was neglected (by my standards) until the end of June or early July.
I sometimes worry that I might have to give up my garden as well if I don’t start to feel better soon. Hopefully that doesn’t happen though. My husbands been very good about picking up some of the slack. I can count on him to water at least if I’m not feeling so hot. He’d probably do more if I actually let him.
Along with photos of your former garden I’m sure that you will have some great nature and landscape photos from your various vacations that you can share with us too. Welcome to green thumb sunday.
Lifecruiser: German hah? Could be. It sure were tall and big. Very impressive, you seldom see that kind of big flower. If I remember right it bloomed in July, but we have different weather zones over here, so that can explain the late blooming. It was so grateful to have because it multiplied itself by new shoots at the side of it. Sorry to hear about your Crohns, I know how hard that is. They believed my sister had that for a while, but confirmed that it was another illness called Collagenous Colitis, which is tough to handle that one too. I hope you’re on the right path to be better now
Thanks for the nice welcome. Take care. C U around 
Hi I am leaving this on all the MM blogs today so I can find out how many really are going to continue to play!
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Lifecruiser: Thank you Debbie. I’ve already noticed that there were a new home for the MM and changed the code in the link too
I have always a time after the other but really I want to participate. SO, I enjoy you loved the garden. I was so Three years ago. As I’m teachers for little children about 3 and 4 years I learned with them to plant flowers and vegetables at school. All the school year we planted and ate our crop! And even one times we have won a price for “le concours des écoles fleuries”(concourse of school in flowers) and we went to Paris at the Sorbonne to receive our price! The best was when my little pupils had to try the odor of aromati plants as mint , basilic or thyme with closed eyes! It was great moments!
Now I’m in an other school and we have just a little garden and it’s not so easy to plant but I will try again this year in pots!
Lifecruiser: I think that’s just wonderful Claudie, to teach the school children about it. I’m sure they enjoyed it as much as you did. After all, it’s all about creation and to see the plants growing is very satiesfying indeed. To learn for life.