Family Roots Run Deep & Strong…

Not only did I come from a family who enjoys being outside…whether hunting in the woods or getting our fingers dirty in our yard, I was also fortunate to marry into one that does as well.  Some of my richest memories of childhood are of being outside with my family…something that Britt and I are trying to create for our girls too.

One of the ways we’ve tried to bring a sense of family history to our home is by transplanting plants from other family members into our yard. There’s just something really soul-enriching and heart-filling about being able to walk through our yard and tell Brown-Brown and Little One… “that hydrangea was in Great Grandma’s yard in Virginia,” “those cast iron plants were in Nana’s yard in Florida,” “that camellia was Mimi’s,” and “those ferns were pulled from Grandma’s creek bed.” Each plant has a story that grounds us in family and history and meaning and love…stories that continue today and that will continue well into our futures and beyond. Sure, my yard is full of plants I bought at local nurseries and big box stores, but there’s just something really special about the plants that have been handed down from generations past and present – each representing both memories and important characters in our life stories.

From time to time we’re going to have some of these characters provide some added texture and color to what is shared here. One of the more colorful characters is Britt’s mom, Brenda. She is full of life…not wanting to miss a thing…and not wanting anyone in her life to miss a thing either! Despite her fast and furious ways at times, she has richly blessed my life and has blessed our girls’ lives in ways that they won’t fully appreciate for years to come.  One of the ways she and I have connected over the years has been by walking around our yards talking about our plants and what we plan to do next.  Like me, her Saturdays typically involve something to do with her yard…she just can’t help herself.

Later this week I’m going to post Brenda’s first entry on RYGblog…about a recent trip she took to visit a friend who has an amazing home and landscape. Brenda’s take on her friend’s amazing potting shed shows her appreciation for both form and function.  Stay tuned!

So who are the characters in your life that provide texture, color, and greater meaning of family and history to your story at home? If not a family member, who could it be…who could you “adopt”?

What are you doing to help make that happen…or at least ensure that there’s a respect and an appreciation for it?

Take care,