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Spring memories & Pasqueflowers

Pulsatilla1

Sometimes a garden's greatest solace lies in the place it holds in our memory. At other times, the value of a garden resides not in our thoughts about the garden, but in the darker, more mysterious thoughts that it permits amid the reassurance offered by its presence in our lives. The garden one returns to, year after year, builds memories, not only of itself, but of the thoughts and events one brings to and takes from the garden.

(Quoted from J.B. Tankard & M.R. Van Valkenburgh, Gertrude Jekyll: A Vision of Garden and Wood Herbaceous Border, at 26.)

Photograph of Pulsatilla vulgaris ~ Pasqueflower ~ from my back garden, 19 May 2009.

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48 responses to “Spring memories & Pasqueflowers”

  1. CurtissAnn Avatar
    CurtissAnn

    Oh, the quote is sooo true! Not only gardens, but for me the memories of the town where I was born, where I visited my grandparents, and walked the lovely sidewalks and smelled the scents of moist plants. I seek that now, odd as it seems.
    Your photograph is stunning. Almost so real as to jump out of the screen.
    xxxooo
    CA

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  2. Connie Avatar
    Connie

    Beautiful quote and beautiful flower! Mine bloomed for the first time this year and I was delighted to see it’s pretty and early maroon colored flower.
    Hope Spring is well on it’s way there on the prairie?

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  3. Selma Avatar
    Selma

    That flower is stunning. I agree that the presence of a garden offers reassurance. It is as comforting as an old friend. My garden certainly enriches my life!

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  4. Layanee DeMerchant Avatar
    Layanee DeMerchant

    It would be impossible to improve on the expression of sentiment in that quote. Where are my pasqueflowers? Must have more.

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  5. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    What a beautiful quote!
    Do you recall the seeds you sent me, maybe a year or more ago? The blue columbine are choked with flowerheads and I am eagerly awaiting their opening day. The delphinium seems to be a favorite snack of the locals, so it’s been a struggle to keep that one intact. Every time I look at them, you cross my mind.

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  6. Lisa at Greenbow Avatar
    Lisa at Greenbow

    Beautiful photo and great quote. My garden holds all of these things. Memories, moments and lots of work. tee hee.

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  7. Abby Lanes Avatar
    Abby Lanes

    This is so beautiful Kate. I gave you a link on my Gardening blog. I hope you like the post.

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  8. Barbara Avatar
    Barbara

    A perfect quote, indeed! Memories also get more important the older one gets…not only gardens. Pulsatillas always “invite” me to touch them 🙂 !
    Have a good time!

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  9. Wildlife gardener Avatar
    Wildlife gardener

    Great header, Kate 🙂
    I love the photo of your pasque flower too…amazing deatil…and the quote is so apt 🙂
    Fancy a spot of pond-dipping? Come to..
    http://ourlittlecornerofparadise.blogspot.com/2009/05/pondlife-in-spring-at-barleycorn.html

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  10. www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawn773FVNYH5G6EaXqkj4l3WVs6fwoTr4Fc Avatar
    www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawn773FVNYH5G6EaXqkj4l3WVs6fwoTr4Fc

    hi Kate,
    haven’t been here in sooo long. Life has been busy with work and now the garden is keeping me busy which is a pleasure though. Pulsatilla is past blooming over here. We are in the process of seeing roses and geranium bloom.
    Hope you are well.
    Andrea

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  11. www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawn773FVNYH5G6EaXqkj4l3WVs6fwoTr4Fc Avatar
    www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawn773FVNYH5G6EaXqkj4l3WVs6fwoTr4Fc

    Strange… wonder what I did wrong when posting. It lists me as google account – this was Andrea from http://blog.verzaehl-mir-was.de

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  12. MrBrownThumb Avatar
    MrBrownThumb

    Cool flower and excellent post. As always.
    You have some of the best pics on any garden blog and your text is always thoughtful.

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  13. Weeping Sore Avatar
    Weeping Sore

    Lovely picture, and the quote is delicious too. My garden is indeed my solace.

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  14. Estrella Avatar
    Estrella

    Ok Kate I will visit you here if it is possible everyday.
    Kisses my dear.

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  15. teeni Avatar
    teeni

    You always pair such wonderful words with such glorious pictures from your garden, Kate! I’ve missed them. Hope you are well – it’s so good to see you! 🙂

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  16. Linda O'Neill Avatar
    Linda O’Neill

    Hi sweet Kate…I love that quote. Beautiful photo too!

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  17. Shady Gardener Avatar
    Shady Gardener

    Kate, your quotation is just perfect, as my early memories of gardening stem from my childhood and how I always aspired to emulate my Aunt MEA! 🙂 I hope I’m never without a pasque flower. They are so lovely.

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  18. Aiyana Avatar
    Aiyana

    Great quote. I stopped by by chance today–it had been so long since you last posted I thought maybe you gave it up. Glad to see you!

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  19. Tipper Avatar
    Tipper

    Pretty flower-pretty quote!

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  20. anna maria Avatar
    anna maria

    Hi Kate,
    I’m glad to see that you are still taking beautiful photos of flowers and loving your garden.
    I am back to blogging (after a one and a half year break!), at least for now, we’ll see how it goes 🙂

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  21. Annie in Austin Avatar
    Annie in Austin

    Your photos ARE lovely, and the quotes thoughtful, Kate – but what happens when thinking about the Pasqueflowers of a past garden (three passalong varieties, one white-flowered, the species and an intense reddish-violet) only bring memories of a lovely fellow gardener who no longer remembers her garden or the people who once loved it?
    Pulsatillas offer no solace yet – but plenty of darker thoughts.
    Annie

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  22. anna maria Avatar
    anna maria

    Hi Kate,
    thanks for your visiting. The ability to shoot close ups of flowers (and dog faces) is exactly why I want a new camera!
    I checked out your photos on Flickr and they are beautiful.

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  23. Karine Swenson Avatar
    Karine Swenson

    Hi Kate,
    I don’t read blogs as often as I used to, but I have missed it. I have missed you. Seeing the photo of the pasque flower reminds me of how much I used to love seeing them peek thru the snow growing up in South Dakota. Aahhh… a sweet reminder.
    Thanks.

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  24. San Avatar
    San

    Such a beautifully profound quote about gardens. And your flower is breathtaking. We’ve been doing some planting. It’s not quite the same here in the high desert, but I’m feeling a burst of happiness at the new blossoms on our new butterfly bush.

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  25. Sylvana Avatar
    Sylvana

    I planted pasque flowers two years ago. The bunnies love them but I am still managing to get them bigger and blooming!

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  26. Terra Avatar
    Terra

    That is a great quote, about gardens we return to, year after year.
    I am not familiar with the pasque flower; your photo shows a lovely lavender and yellow combination.

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  27. Wildlife Gardener Avatar
    Wildlife Gardener

    Hello, Dear Kate. Just popped by to see if you are well, as I’ve not heard from you for a wee while now… 🙂
    Fancy watching a little video of Barleycorn in June? It has housemartins, snails and kitty-cat tales…
    http://ourlittlecornerofparadise.blogspot.com/2009/06/barleycorn-meditation-in-june.html

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  28. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    Simply stunning details and gorgeous colors. I had forgotten to comment on this post by oversight.

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  29. Anna/Flowergardengirl Avatar
    Anna/Flowergardengirl

    I’ve had the privilege of starting many a garden but the sadness of leaving them too soon. So I have lots of memories of plants I’ll never see again. That’s what this post reminds me of. I miss the plants I left behind and wonder how they are growing for their new owner.

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  30. eag Avatar
    eag

    Very nice quote from the great gertrude!Lovle yphoto too of a favourite flower.Hope you’re survivign the ‘heatwave’.

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  31. rosemarie Avatar
    rosemarie

    Just visiting! On another note, everything you read on GoodReads is always peaking my interest, I’m glad you’re on it.

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  32. Pete Rencontres Avatar
    Pete Rencontres

    Beautiful and impressive !
    The quote is so true. Could you advise me where i can find the book ?

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  33. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    What a wonderful quote – and a beautiful photograph!

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  34. Iowa Gardening Woman Avatar
    Iowa Gardening Woman

    Beautiful flowers and photos! Years ago I had pasque flowers but they died out, I replanted some this spring so I am hoping they bloom for me next spring.

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  35. Wildlife Gardener Avatar
    Wildlife Gardener

    It’s me again, Kate…hope you are well. Would you like to come and visit me awhile?
    http://ourlittlecornerofparadise.blogspot.com/2009/07/softly-awakes-my-heart.html

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  36. Chigiy Binell Avatar
    Chigiy Binell

    Amazing photo. Just beautiful. I love the purple next to the yellow. Very nice.

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  37. Carmen Avatar
    Carmen

    yes yes yes i have been away from you.
    your pictures are awesome as always!
    what kind of camera you carry around for this?

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  38. The Urban Green Avatar
    The Urban Green

    You are an amazing photographer! The flowers come alive…great to have come across your blog…
    http://theurbanbalcony.blogspot.com/

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  39. Wildlife Gardener Avatar
    Wildlife Gardener

    Are you well, dear Kate? Long time no see… Wishing you well, and happy gardening…WGxxx
    http://ourlittlecornerofparadise.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post.html

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  40. Chigiy Binell Avatar
    Chigiy Binell

    I enjoyed reading the quote. I have not been to your site for a while or anybodies for that matter.But I’m back. I noticed all the beautiful ultra close-up photos. They are fantastic. They are like some painting by Georgia O’Keeffe but of course you’re a wonderful painter yourself. You have so much talent.

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  41. Miranda Bell Avatar
    Miranda Bell

    Hi Kate – I thought I’d pop over and say hello – I know it’s been a while – what a beautiful plant and a perfect quote to accompany it… hope all’s well with you – it’s been a busy year here in France and we’re still enjoying summer which is holding on – a nice change as we’d already had to put the heating on by now this time last year! Take care Miranda x

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  42. Shady Gardener Avatar
    Shady Gardener

    Missing you, Kate. Hope you are well. I do enjoy returning to see this beautiful pasque flower. 🙂

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  43. Sande Avatar
    Sande

    Thanks for the recent visit to my blog. This is my first visit here. Your flower photos are gorgeous!

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  44. Andrea Avatar
    Andrea

    Hi there, been wondering where you’ve been hiding?
    Hope all is well and you made it into the New Year all right.
    Greetings from Germany, Andrea

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  45. Rowan Avatar
    Rowan

    It was nice to see your comment on my blog:) This quote is so true, in winter I often look back at my garden photographs and remember days sitting in the sun and smelling all the lovely scents and hearing the buzz of bees as they work the flowers. It will all be here again before we know it.

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  46. melanie Avatar
    melanie

    What a lovely quote and a beautiful photo. Pasque flowers are one of my most favourite spring flowers.

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  47. Shady Gardener Avatar
    Shady Gardener

    It’ll soon be that your pasque flowers will be blooming again! 🙂

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  48. St. Fairsted Farm/ ang Avatar
    St. Fairsted Farm/ ang

    I must remember to pop in more, your photo’s and writing our inspirational. (hugs)

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