From Skilled Hands

The Hospice Gardeners

By fromskilledhands ( November 27, 2007 at 6:46 pm) · Filed under Art, Change, Craft, creativity, Musings, Uncategorized

When my father was at Hospice, his room had French doors that opened onto a courtyard garden. The garden was, at that time, in transition, a fitting metaphor for that time in our lives. A man and a woman were working there, their hands digging into the clay soil. With their hands they carefully removed old overgrown plants and weeds. They lovingly left one plant; a woman who was residing at Hospice wanted to watch that plant. It sat amidst the piles of dirt.

Lu, the Hospice gardener, told me about thier vision for the space: a waterfall and a pool of water, a mix of perennials and annuals. Maybe some artwork. We shared moments in that hot garden space, talking about things and sharing thoughts. Thoughts about the beauty of doing things by hand, one step at a time.

I thought of Lu on and off after my Dad’s death, wondering how she was and how the garden was progressing. One late summer day, I pulled into a parking space in front of a group of stores. Looking up, I spotted a familiar figure walking into a store. I followed her into the store and continued the conversation that had occurred in a place and time that seemed so long ago, and, at the same time, just yesterday.

I will return to the garden in the spring so I can see the what it is like; we’ll both be removed from the rawness of that time last summer. I am grateful to those gardeners, their hearts and hands, and to the work that they do, thoughtfully connecting people to places that are far removed from many of our lives.

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7 comments »

Larramie said,

November 27, 2007 @ 10:23 pm

Debra, you wrote about the garden: “Maybe some artwork?” Hmm, do you have any ideas from the heart of skilledhands?
Larramie said,

November 28, 2007 @ 1:26 am

I’ve tagged you for a meme, Debra, please visit my blog.
Cathy said,

November 28, 2007 @ 12:31 pm

Giving attention to these seemingly small things makes such a huge difference, doesn’t it? My husband’s father died in an English hospice and outside his room was a beautiful garden. It was a comfort for everyoneâ€”a real sense of beauty and life going on.
Sherry said,

November 28, 2007 @ 3:51 pm

This is beautiful Debra. Loving hands can do so much…our hands really are our hearts to God.
fromskilledhands said,

December 1, 2007 @ 11:55 am

Larramie–I have thought about maiking something for the garden. Probably something with a dragonfly since it symbolizes transition in some cultures.
I don’t have time to work on the meme right now, Larramie , although it is an interesting one!

It’s all the small things that make the whole picture, eh, Cathy? Gardens keep me grounded and centered, and, as you say, so aware of the beauty of life around me.

Thank you, Sherry. Loving hands do so much in our lives, don’t they? Taking the time to recognize their place makes such a difference.
Nancy said,

December 2, 2007 @ 12:35 pm

This is a beautiful post =)
When you return to the garden in the spring, I hope you will take photos.
fromskilledhands said,

December 3, 2007 @ 10:28 am

Thank you, Nancy. I do plan on taking pictures of the garden when I return to Hospice.