Gardening can be such a personal journey. It’s not just about planting a seed and watching it grow. It is a process in which you tend and nurture and then stand back and watch in amazement. It can be extremely therapeutic interacting with the plants and the earth, creating your own comforting environment without explanation or apology. A place to escape and decompress.
1988 my husband and I purchased a brand new home in Canyon Country placed on a parcel of dirt which I observed as a blank canvas. Through the years the garden evolved, not only with the seasons, but with new found knowledge from a series of gardening classes I attended at the LA Arboretum. Many plants met their demise during this process but that did not discourage me at all! If anything, I became much more inspired and determined. My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning. Gardening is a process of trial and error and the successes are so rewarding that the sometime discouraging set backs are overshadowed.
Life was good until November 13, 2004 when we were notified that our only son Cole was killed in Iraq. Our world came crashing down around us. The Santa Clarita community where Cole and his sister, Haley grew up were so supportive and honored Cole for his heroism. We still continue to receive letters and awards from different community organizations that honor and recognize our son for his heroic efforts. It is truly appreciated and heartfelt.
During those darker days I reached out to TAPS for support and was received with open arms. There I felt understood and supported. We were a family connected by an unenviable bond.
I wanted to somehow thank our community for their unwavering and continued support. That is when the garden tour was born. I had attended a garden tour for years in another community and thought this is exactly what our community needs! Our annual event will be in its seventh year and the attendance and support continues to increase each year. It has been a rewarding and challenging journey and I feel extremely fortunate to have met so many compassionate people who give of themselves unselfishly.
The Memorial Garden Tour is an annual event that supports The Cole William Larsen Foundation which is a 501(c)3 public non-profit charity. We continue to support TAPS and Wounded Warrior Project.
For additional information please go to www.memorialgardentour.com.