AN OASIS OF JOY



One Christmas my mom received a gorgeous Cyclamen plant to cheer her.  Oh, that plant bloomed continuously for over 2 months! After it finished it looked quite dead, but mom wanted me to take it home.  Mom’s room didn't get much sunlight,  because there was a large spruce tree in front of her window and besides, there was such limited space on her little TV table. 

I really didn’t want more plants in my house and asked mom if I could leave it in the ‘Link’ as we called it. She agreed! The Link was a connecting walkway between our care centre and the manor next door.  It has a lovely little seating area, is full of houseplants and lots of windows to let the sunshine in.



When mom and dad first moved into the Manor in the mid 80s, it was mom who volunteered to take care of these plants! Because she had the greenest thumb I know, the Link was always a showcase of thriving, blooming, interesting plants. The dead leaves and spent blossoms had no chance to fall; she picked them off meticulously! She lovingly washed leaves and made them shine with her secret recipe. Residents and family members loved to ‘set a spell’ and bask in the sunshine and the fragrant air, especially in our six months of dead of winter! It was an oasis of joy!



When someone moved, family members would donate more plants.  Mom would propagate, talk to them, in German I'm sure, lovingly nurture and then in the spring sell off what was simply getting to be too many plants.  The funds raised went into the Tuck Shop to support the Recreation Department!  Mom did this for many years until she moved into the long-term care centre herself.


Now back to the quite dead Cyclamen with all it’s leaves cut off. I had placed it into the Link and watched it for weeks.  Our new volunteer for this area looked after watering it.  I was almost ready one day to throw it out because it just wasn’t doing anything, when I noticed a tiny little sprout poking through! 



From then on that plant just demonstrated a new will to live and bloom where planted. It continuously bloomed in this spot – without ever taking a rest – for over 3+ years. Mom and I went to visit it quite often and she delighted knowing it was still alive and adding a splash of vibrant color to its surroundings for the joy of all who came to visit. The plant finished blooming about 6 months before my mom died.  I have recently helped the new volunteer re-pot, freshen up and clean up the whole Link, so that new plants can grow and continue to bring joy to our seniors. What a lovely memory!




22 comments:

pam said...

How wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Hi Karin, What a heart-warming post. Thank you for sharing sweet memories of your Mom.

Mari said...

What a beautiful spot! I know you Mom enjoyed what she did there and think of the joy she brought to others with her green thumb.
Glad you are able to enjoy her memory when you see it.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

That is a neat memory, Karin... What a wonderful tribute to your mom... She must have had a green thumb... I'm sure she is glad that the Link still has beautiful plants and flowers... How special!!!!!

Thanks for sharing. LOVED it.
Hugs,
Betsy

ellen b. said...

A wonderful memory for sure and such a nice spot to sit a spell! :0)

Sandy said...

My mom loves cyclamens too! They are such a pretty little plant and if they like their spot will give you quite a show!

George said...

This is a wonderful post, not only about the cyclamen, but about your mother as well.
Thank you.

Bernie said...

Oh yes this is a wonderful memory and the link looks lovely....:-)Hugs

Linda said...

Oh Karin, this post was so precious. And it reminded me of my mom-in-law, because she had a green thumb...loved plants...and especially cylcamen. I gave her one a few months before she passed away...and after reading this it makes me wonder if I could have kept it going if I had moved it to a sunny place.

Your mother sounded like a very special lady...as was my mom-in-law.

Have a great day sweet friend!

Linda @ Truthful Tidbits

Judy said...

A wonderful story...great memories...and how neat that the Link continues to give joy to the seniors.

Lady Dorothy said...

What a lovely spot! And memory.

Betty W said...

What a special area to sit and enjoy nature. I think it´s wonderful of the nursing home to make this space available.
Loved that story about your mom´s plant.

Unknown said...

Dear Karin, what a faithful, encouraging blogger friend you are. thank you so much for your comments and kind words. This was a beautiful post from a beautiful heart. Blessings
QMM

Velvet Over Steel said...

That is a lovely memory, Karin!! So sweet, thank you for sharing. I am coming to grips with my mother's age.

Her retirement party is tomorrow and that has made me realize that, although we weren't close most of my younger life, we are now and she is getting much older than I realized until recently. Hope to have time for some of these types of memories!

Thanks for sharing!! I needed to read this tonight!!

Blessings & Hugs,
Coreen

Kimberly Pitman said...

My mom is a great indoor gardener, too, while my dad is the master of outdoor beauty. My parents are living, but plants and flowers always make me think of them and probably always will!

Thanks for sharing your memory of your mother's green thumb.

Ginny Hartzler said...

What a wonderful story! I want to sit in that sunny window seat in the link!! I'm so glad you had this picture to show us. A true story of the re-emergence of life.

Wendy said...

Gorgeous cyclamen! I could never grow them - they always died, but then I didn't keep it past the dead leaf stage. Maybe there is a lesson here.

You mom must have been such a gentle soul, tending the plants and caring for the manor. Nice memories.

Liara Covert said...

Plants remind us that we all thrive in environments where we get plenty of nourishment, water, light and TLC. Very uplifting post that inspires personal and spiritual growth! Blessings to you.

Glenda said...

Great post, Karin! The link is such a peaceful-looking, cheerful spot! When some of my "dead" plants began to sprout new growth in the past, I've been reminded that God does the same kind of rebirthing in people, too! So glad He does!

NCmountainwoman said...

Great post! I love the link. So beautiful and inviting.

Douglas Dahl said...

What a great story. I give up way to easily...especially on plants. But is amazing how God can bring out blossems on things we thought long dead...

Connie Barris said...

I have decided that memories are the pathway to Heaven...

what a sweet place


Connie