May 1st would have been my father's 77th birthday. I remember him telling me how he loved having his birthday on May Day. As a young boy in Germany, May Day was always a wonderful celebration day.Dad loved to be outside, he would take us hiking, sledding, skating, berry picking, wandering, beach combing, anything he could think of as long as it was outside.
He died when he was 70 years old and after he passed away friends of mine gave me this beautiful tree to plant in his memory. The tree is an Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' which is also known as a Moon Maple. I love this tree more than anything else in my garden.
Tonight I spent an hour looking at old digital photos. It seems that Dad's tree usually unfurled it's leaves during the last week of April. It's grown quite a bit since this photo in 2005.
Planted around Dad's tree is a wonderful array of Hosta and shade plants.
Since Dad always had a great sense of humor, this bowling ball and matching shoes were moved from the other side of the garden to rest now under Dad's tree.
This year the most amazing thing happened. The leaves on Dad's tree unfurled on May first, Dad's birthday! I couldn't help but smile all day as I realized that Dad was in the garden with me again.Happy Birthday Dad, hope you don't mind this post is a bit late, I was busy spending time in the garden :-)
Melanie
3 comments:
What a great post. Thanks for sharing.
Melanie, what a wonderful tribute to your Dad! I think that to be happy is the best thing that we can do for our parents, since this is exactly what they wanted. Your garden shows that you are a happy person and wonderful daughter. In Russia, we all loved the 1st of May. The country leaders tried to make it a political holiday (actually, it was political), but people celebrated spring, warmth, nature, new beginnings. I understand why your Dad liked this day. All the best to you and your garden!
Melanie what a lovely post in memory of your Dad. The Acer is delightful. I was given one in a pot some years ago and although it has been pruned top and roots I do think it aught to be in the ground but not found the best place for it. It clearly needs shade.
Sadly the neighbour Julie who gave me the tree has since died very young, of throat cancer she was only late thirties early forties and a wonderful artistic gardener.
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