Click on the audio file above to listen to Maria read her story.
“Nonna, why do you love flowers so much?” A question that my grandson asked me one beautiful Spring day. I smiled at him “honey the garden gives me peace.” I have a plaque in my garden that reads “My Garden My Heaven.
Spring is the time my garden comes alive. I’m an early riser and the first thing I do as I start my day, weather permitting, armed with a cup of coffee I go through the garden. My husband tells friends that I actually talk to my plants.
Whenever I’m on a trip my camera is never far away. I have collected some wonderful photos of flowers. I like to look back at different flowers I’ve seen. I sometimes make prints of flowers to put on the walls of our house. As I look back my love of plants both indoor and outdoor comes from my grandfather. I remember walking with him through his rose garden. Roses are my passion. They are both love and heartache. My home is in a small seacoast community south of Boston. Seaside gardens can prove heart wrenching. Wind is either my friend or my enemy. The wind keeps insects away during the summer months; however, strong wind can do a lot of damage to the roses. I have covered them, made sure that they are properly tied to the trellis, but no matter winter damage can be cruel.
Love of plants has been instilled in me and my two brothers through our family: through my grandfather the love of flowers and through my father the love of vegetable gardens. Vegetable gardens are my brothers’ domain, especially my older brother. He has a wealth of information on how to plant and care for a vegetable garden.
Author: Maria Gianquitto
Herbarium image in header:
Wow, what beautiful roses! I wish I had more space in my garden for lots of roses. (I only have two…. Rosa woodsii (https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ROWO ) and an unknown red, shrub-type rose that came with the house.)