13/07/2014

A Memorial Garden

Recently, one of my beloved cats had to be put to sleep. Misty had been with us for 12 years, and as any pet owner knows, they become a huge part of the family and as such, we want to treat them with some dignity when they pass. Misty loved the garden. At the first sign of sunshine she'd be the first of the cats lined up at the door just itching to get out. She'd find a sunny spot and there she'd stay until her hungry stomach got the better of her!



It seemed fitting to place her ashes in the garden, but I also wanted to create a small space just for her. If you've seen my previous posts, you'll know my garden is fairly choc a bloc, and I was worried anywhere I placed her would become overgrown with plants in the summer. So I came up with the idea of using some raised beds I have on my patio as a memorial garden.

I wanted it to be a bright, happy space, and raided our local garden centre for the cheeriest plants !


I began by planting a beautiful Clematis called Niobe, which has stunning purple flowers and will hopefully smother the fence within a few years. 



I planted the pretty Dahlia Happy at the back of the bed, although I remember now why I love Dahlias but don't usually plant any. This is the before photo:-


And this is the after, when those pesky slugs and snails have been on the attack! I've been picking them off by the bucketload, but it's a never ending battle and they seem to be winning. I think I will replace these with geraniums if the problem gets any worse.


Impatiens (Busy Lizzies to you and me) and baby Geraniums that I've grown from cuttings have been placed in front, along with the prettiest Nemesia. I appear to have missed the boat with Lobelia to drape over the edges as I couldn't find any in the garden centres, so I may well pop back and get some more Nemesia to soften the bed and fill in the gaps at the front. All in all though, I am pleased with it so far and think it will look really beautiful once the geraniums get going. 




Rest in Peace my little Misty.


36 comments:

  1. I feel for you Paula, it is so sad when a beloved pet dies. We buried our old dog in the garden here so I feel somehow that she is still with us.
    Many thanks for leaving a message on my blog, it's nice to be able to read about new gardens.

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    1. Yes, that's how we feel too Pauline, as if she's still here somehow.

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  2. Losing a pet is an awful experience, and one which only pet lovers can understand. It is a lovely way to remember Misty, and she will always be in the garden , where she loved to be. A very fitting memorial full of bright, happy plants. Love 'Niobe', fantastic colour. I have planted trees for dogs we have had and loved dearly.
    When a dear friend sadly died nearly 2 years ago, I planted a whole area of the garden and tried to garden in her style. I love to sit and think about her there.

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    1. What a lovely thing to do Jane, I imagine it must bring you lots of comfort when you sit there.

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  3. So sorry about your little cat

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    1. Thanks Sue, I've just about stopped bursting into tears every time I think about her now.

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  4. Hello Paula - lovely to see you back blogging after such a long break. So sorry to hear about Misty - it is hard when beloved pets die but she will always be in your heart and the memorial garden is a lovely way for you to remember her.

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    1. Thanks Elaine, I think everyone else has forgotten who I am, lol!

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  5. Hello Paula .. I am so sorry for your loss. We love our furry kids so much it leaves a huge hole in our hearts when we lose them. This is a wonderful idea and even with the bugs dining on some of the plants .. it will grow strong and so pretty in faithful memory of Misty.
    Joy

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  6. Hi Paula! How hard it is to lose a friend!
    ***
    Thank you for your comment on my blog! I like your blooms, especially peony shown in the previous post. Lovely!
    Have a nice week!

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    1. Yes, they are friends aren't they. I'm looking forward to reading more of your blog over the coming days, I've enjoyed the posts I've read so far.

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  7. Your Misty would love her new resting spot! It is so cheery. Too bad about the Dahlias, but the geraniums will be lovely. I am sorry about Misty and understand why you made a place for her in your garden. I joke that my woodland garden comes alive at night with the ghosts of all the pets we have buried there. Now we have a cat that looks very much like your Misty!

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    1. I hope your cat brings you as much joy as Misty did to us :-) . How lovely to have a woodland space as a memorial to your pets that have passed on, sounds perfect.

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  8. My sympathies. Mum always said to remember our pets with fondness and a smile. Snails have been such a problem this year that I've resorted to using organic slug pellets for the first time.
    It's good to see you posting again, even if it's on a rather poignant subject.
    Take care, and happy gardening.Flighty xx

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    1. Hi Flighty, glad you remember me after my long break :-) I'll be getting some slug pellets at the weekend as it's a bit soul destroying seeing all these beautiful plants desecrated.

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  9. It's so sad to lose any pet that became a family member, Paula. I think these flowers will remind you beloved cat as she loved to be in your garden.

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    1. Hi Nadezda. The flowers are certainly providing lots of comfort when I sit there and think about her.

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  10. I'm truly sorry for your loss Paula - you are totally correct in the fact that our pets are family members and they really do rely on us.
    What a fitting memorial you have created and I'm sure it will bring you happy thoughts of Misty each and every time you see it.

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    1. Thanks Angie. I do indeed have happy memories of her :-) .

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  11. I understand just how you are feeling at this time. Having lost many pets, it does not get any easier. I love the memorial that you have planted for Misty.........everything you have done shows just how much you loved her.

    Slugs have taken all my dahlias......I have planted Geraniums.....you are not alone.

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    1. Yes, it looks like Geraniums are the way to go, such a shame though.

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  12. Ahhhh, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, I totally agree, our pets are part of our family and it's simply heartbreaking when they pass. It sounds like Misty had a wonderful home with lots of love so was a lucky cat. I love your memorial, how beautiful and now she will be a part of your garden forever.xxx

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    1. Thank you Snowbird, she was very loved and had a great life :-) .

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  13. I am sorry about your loss, Paula. It is a wonderful idea to have a bit of garden space to remember your pet. It looks beautiful and peaceful.
    Thank you for coming to my blog.

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    1. Thank you Masha. I'm looking forward to reading more of your lovely blog.

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  14. I am sorry for your loss Paula, as a cat owner myself I know how hard it is when our pets pass away. Loved your cheery flowers, and I also love dahlias – got loads of them, without slugs and snails. I use organic slug pellets. Lovely to see you back blogging, that was a long break!

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    1. Yes, I think the slug pellets are going to have to make an appearance here too Helene! It was a rather long break, but I'm back with a vengeance now :-) .

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  15. I'm sorry for your loss. Pets become our best friends and it is so painful when they pass. Right now I have a cat named Pumpkin who has been with me for 17 years! What a nice memorial you created for Misty. Also - the Clematis is going to look beautiful when it fills in.

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    1. 17 years is a great age for a cat Danielle. I hope my other two are around for as long. Love the name Pumpkin too :-) .

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  16. It's so hard when our pets die. I always mean to put my pets ashes in the garden but can never bring myself to open their boxes. Your memorial garden is very pretty.

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    1. I placed the box in the ground too Tammy, I could never bring myself to undo it either.

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  17. Lovely tribute to your tabby cat.
    It is always so sad when you have to let them go, have had 2 dear cats die in my arms. Hoping the two girls we have now, and have had since kittens will be around for a long time.
    Heather :)

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    1. Yes, it's so sad isn't it. Wishing your cats a long and happy life :-) .

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  18. You have my condolences on your cat Misty. I lost a 16-year old kitty last fall, and I still miss her. In fact, I've lost a few over the years, and I miss them all. You've created a very pretty garden spot for her ashes, and written a sweet tribute.

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  19. So sorry for your loss. We have had a lot of cats over the years. Our oldest lived for 19 years. It was very sad to lose him. Now we have two new cats. Plus we adopted two strays one last year and one the year before.

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