Marking Time with Nature
Look to nature or your backyard garden to honor and remember a loved one.
In Maine, you can always expect to see tulips blooming in May and Lupines in June. Every year, it remains the same. Plants serve as markers of time. I took a Thanksgiving Cactus cutting from my Grandmother's plant almost seven years ago when she was still alive. Every November, without fail, the plant swells with buds. When the Cactus starts to flower, I'm transported back to her kitchen on that day in November when I asked her for the cutting.When my good friend lost her beloved dog a few years ago at the end of June, I remembered seeing a Mock Orange shrub blooming in my yard. I told my friend, from then on, I would always think of Smokey every time I saw a Mock Orange in bloom. 
Mock Orange shrub. Image courtesy of Sparrowhawk Native Plants
A year ago on September 29th, we unexpectedly lost our 11 year-old dog. For the days and weeks that followed, I walked around in a fog of sadness doing what I had to do to get through each day. In the quiet moments of my grief, I slowed down and truly felt present. Observing nature felt nourishing. In late September and early October, when the sun was lower in the sky and the air was mild, I watched the plants in my garden sparkle and sway in the the warm afternoon sunlight.When Sasso died, I noticed the New England Asters were in bloom, so I quietly dedicated this flower to him. Every September, when I see their tiny daisy-like lavender flowers, I'll be comforted by the thought of him and the last few perfect days we had together. —
The next time you or someone close to you loses a loved one, take comfort in nature and look around to see what's in bloom.
New England Aster blooming in September