A Garden Full Addie and Agnes born before 1910 gave us jade and pink ladies Dr Johanek and Dr Bliss – irises, and aloes Geraniums and honeysuckle, a wedding gift from Kate & Bill in 2002 Jesse and Raye, calla lilies and moonflowers. Mom gifted ginger from her trip to Hawaii, Dad tilled the land while I was in labor so the flowers that arrived after my 2nd son’s birth in 1995 would thrive, each of us shared hours of labor ending in breath taking beauty. Banana trees since Richard and sugar cane from Ed ice cream bean trees and passion fruit given by Mary and Ben. Nanny planted impatients and bougainvillea to celebrate the life of her 3rd grandson Nancy nursed willow saplings that entice swallowtails, their eggs and larvae, much to our children’s delight. Greg lavishes us with kalanchos, orchids,succulents, staghorns and 100-year bonsais. Three Chinese flame trees created a forest to share with others Noriega granted us a Guava tree. The Adachi’s adorned our koi ponds with water lillies Lynette brought bromeliads, Don in Bali, Daturas a visit from Dennis, a dwarf aloe and turtle. Epiphyllums awaken in a hot pink starburst for just one day. Walt gifted rare Panamanian orchids with a story and painting from each one Linda T. sent us a bo tree, a peacock fern and a Buddha’s hand from Florida Linda B. arrived with a 25-year-old cattalaya, the Costa Rican national flower, for our gallery’s opening. Friends bring cuttings and bulbs for dinner gifts, or leave them unexpectedly at our door knowing they will be cherished nurtured back to life…. Sweet pea seeds, collected throughout California all blooming the fragrance of memories gathered The last decade riddled with the highs and lows of lives lived carries on in our garden, many friends still here some have moved on We pay our respects to each as we weed and fertilize this land we are growing on. Lisa Albright Ratnavira 4/26/06