Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sweet Reminder

It’s nice to find a plant that brings back childhood memories. My mom used to keep one of these over the winter in our livingroom bay window. In the summer she would put it out on the front step. She called it a “Parlour Maple” and hers was a pinkish-coral colour. I always thought it was so pretty.


So I was delighted to see this Abutilon ‘Chinese Lantern’ White and recognize it as the same plant. This one is grown on a graft, standard style, as a patio plant and so I have it in a pot by my back door.


The bees love it and it gets a lovely hint of blush around the edges. It makes me wish my mom was around to see some of the choices in plants out there today. She would be amazed.


I think she would more amazed to find out how much I have fallen in love with gardening.


Thanks, Mom, for passing that gift on.
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8 comments:

  1. ValJuly 25, 2009 at 1:51 PM

    Gardening is so therapeutic! I'm amazed that more people don't do it! Lovely pictures! Val

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  2. BarryJuly 25, 2009 at 6:54 PM

    How wonderful it is to stumble across a plant that can evoke such wonderful memories. My Grandmother instilled an awareness of gardening in me, and now when I see the bright red climbing roses, she seems to be that much closer. A very heartfelt post!

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  3. Ellie Mae's CottageJuly 25, 2009 at 9:39 PM

    It always so great when something in the garden invokes a wonderful message. Such a touching post. -Jackie

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  4. sweetbayJuly 26, 2009 at 7:11 AM

    That Abutilon is just lovely, with the tints of blush.

    How wonderful that it brought back those memories for you.

    I have plants from both my grandparents and my husband's grandparents and they have a special place in the garden.

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  5. Iowa Gardening WomanJuly 26, 2009 at 6:54 PM

    I knew the plant as a flowering maple, I have not seen a white one, the one I knew had pinkish peach flowers. I love it when a plant brings back memories.

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  6. tlchangJuly 26, 2009 at 11:50 PM

    That's one I haven't seen before. It looks lovely.

    My mother and both grandmothers (and mother-in-law) are/were avid gardeners so I think I have it in my genes. I have plants from nearly all of them in my own garden, which is fun.

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  7. Northern Beauty SeekerJuly 29, 2009 at 10:46 PM

    Thanks, everybody for your thoughful comments.

    I wish I did have something from my Mom's garden. I do have irises from my Dad's current garden, though, and he is promising me ostrich ferns and white lilies when he divides them - so maybe I am doubly blessed in the gardening gene. (Now let's hope I fulfill some of that promise!)

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  8. Ruthie ReddenJuly 30, 2009 at 1:58 AM

    How wonderful, it is absolutely gorgeous & all the more so for its precious memories x

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