Who Has Plants That Are Family Heirlooms ?
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Lavender2
Garden Addicted
I have Grandpa's Iris. We call it the great Iris rescue.
... and also lily of the valley and lilacs.
When grandpa passed, grandma wouldn't let anyone touch his gardens. She was never really into gardening much, but kept them up for quite a few years. Mom rescued some of the Iris after they were neglected for about 15 years. They were now under shade from a maple tree and had not bloomed in years.
Mom's interest in gardening was minimal and soon the iris were shaded by a maple tree they had planted.
She bugged me for years to rescue them. I finally did about 10 years ago, planting the small neglected tubers on the side of my house, sure they would not ever amount to much. Two years later they started to bloom! I moved them to the back of a perennial bed to better soil. When Mom came to see them the next year, she cried.
My favorite one was my grandpa's least favorite. A medium height Iris that multiplies fast.
My grandpa passed when I was 10, but I still can see him in his rose and iris garden.
... and also lily of the valley and lilacs.When grandpa passed, grandma wouldn't let anyone touch his gardens. She was never really into gardening much, but kept them up for quite a few years. Mom rescued some of the Iris after they were neglected for about 15 years. They were now under shade from a maple tree and had not bloomed in years.
Mom's interest in gardening was minimal and soon the iris were shaded by a maple tree they had planted.
She bugged me for years to rescue them. I finally did about 10 years ago, planting the small neglected tubers on the side of my house, sure they would not ever amount to much. Two years later they started to bloom! I moved them to the back of a perennial bed to better soil. When Mom came to see them the next year, she cried.
My favorite one was my grandpa's least favorite. A medium height Iris that multiplies fast.
My grandpa passed when I was 10, but I still can see him in his rose and iris garden.
Pulsegleaner
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Besides being an avid gardener, my maternal grandfather was a pretty good breeder of daylilies. After my grandmother passed away a few years ago, one of the things we did before the house was sold was to take some plants from any patches we could find (unfortunately, the actual sale happened in the fall, so the plants were not at their most obvious among the other garden stuff (which hadn't really been touched since Grandpa passed away, which was at least fifteen years previous.) We also took some ferns and hostas from the garden (though, as far as I know those were just catalog plants)
Technically some of our Irises were given to us by Grandpa as well (actually most of the daylilies we had before we transplanted the ones from his garden were given to us by him as well) though again catalog material, and those have degraded quite a lot (they're still there but all but one of the mixed colors that were planted have disappeared, and now fairly few of them flower at all.)
Technically some of our Irises were given to us by Grandpa as well (actually most of the daylilies we had before we transplanted the ones from his garden were given to us by him as well) though again catalog material, and those have degraded quite a lot (they're still there but all but one of the mixed colors that were planted have disappeared, and now fairly few of them flower at all.)
Jared77
Garden Addicted
@Lavender2 the yellow & purple are absolutely beautiful!!!
The whole collection is really impressive no wonder your Mom cried, what a great thing to see again.
As far as the African violets go my Dad is a retired biology teacher. He kept a number of aquariums and terrariums so they came naturally to him. When he retired a few years ago he brought home a number of aquariums that got converted to hold African violets and are scattered through out their house. I guess he got tired of keeping up on that many fish. They look great because each one is a mix of different varieties.
He even has a terrarium he partitioned a portion of it off using part of the front glass (think ground pool) so it's an aquarium within the terrarium and keeps a betta in it and the rest is a terrarium with a rabbits foot fern and other plants in it.
This thread really gives me hope and inspires me. I involve my girls as much as possible growing all sorts of oddball and different colored things in an effort to encourage them to garden too. I'm trying to leave an impression on them like the family members before us did. This thread is proof that their efforts and passions have had an obvious effect on us.
The whole collection is really impressive no wonder your Mom cried, what a great thing to see again.
As far as the African violets go my Dad is a retired biology teacher. He kept a number of aquariums and terrariums so they came naturally to him. When he retired a few years ago he brought home a number of aquariums that got converted to hold African violets and are scattered through out their house. I guess he got tired of keeping up on that many fish. They look great because each one is a mix of different varieties.
He even has a terrarium he partitioned a portion of it off using part of the front glass (think ground pool) so it's an aquarium within the terrarium and keeps a betta in it and the rest is a terrarium with a rabbits foot fern and other plants in it.
This thread really gives me hope and inspires me. I involve my girls as much as possible growing all sorts of oddball and different colored things in an effort to encourage them to garden too. I'm trying to leave an impression on them like the family members before us did. This thread is proof that their efforts and passions have had an obvious effect on us.
Carol Dee
Garden Master
Well you all know about the heirloom Christmas cactus. DH corrected me and says it must be nearer 75 years than 50 years old!
Also have Naked Ladies (resurrection lily) from my Dad. And walking onions and horse radish from DH's Grandparents.
Also have Naked Ladies (resurrection lily) from my Dad. And walking onions and horse radish from DH's Grandparents.
Lavender2
Garden Addicted
Thanks @Jared77 , none of the iris are unique or rare, that I know of... but yes, just bringing back the memory of Grampa Frank is so cherished.
Your dad's Violets and terrariums sound beautiful! What a neat idea to have a fish pond terrarium!
My daughter is starting to catch the gardening bug, I think. They have 4 kids, age 1,3,5, and 8 ... so you know about the time and energy. Just in case, I'm already working on my grand kids.
Both of my sons grow food, and cook. I think it left more of an impression than I noticed when they were younger. Good for you for teaching your kids about a great life skill!
Your dad's Violets and terrariums sound beautiful! What a neat idea to have a fish pond terrarium!
My daughter is starting to catch the gardening bug, I think. They have 4 kids, age 1,3,5, and 8 ... so you know about the time and energy. Just in case, I'm already working on my grand kids.
Both of my sons grow food, and cook. I think it left more of an impression than I noticed when they were younger.
Good for you for teaching your kids about a great life skill!
lesa
Garden Master
My rhubarb plant came from my Grandmother's garden. I have many plants from my Mom's garden. I love having that sense of history in the garden. I really wish she hadn't been so generous with her mint...
journey11
Garden Master
I have Grandpa's Iris. We call it the great Iris rescue.
When grandpa passed, grandma wouldn't let anyone touch his gardens. She was never really into gardening much, but kept them up for quite a few years. Mom rescued some of the Iris after they were neglected for about 15 years. They were now under shade from a maple tree and had not bloomed in years.
Mom's interest in gardening was minimal and soon the iris were shaded by a maple tree they had planted.
She bugged me for years to rescue them. I finally did about 10 years ago, planting the small neglected tubers on the side of my house, sure they would not ever amount to much. Two years later they started to bloom! I moved them to the back of a perennial bed to better soil. When Mom came to see them the next year, she cried.
View attachment 5922
View attachment 5923
My favorite one was my grandpa's least favorite. A medium height Iris that multiplies fast.
View attachment 5921
My grandpa passed when I was 10, but I still can see him in his rose and iris garden.
I love them all together. So lovely! No wonder she cried. Glad to hear they have found their place in the sun again.
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Nyboy
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Anyone else's eyes water reading this ?
ninnymary
Garden Master
Yes Nyboy, it is all so heartwarming to know that many of you have plants from your grandparents. I wish I did.
Mary
Mary
