As we head into Memorial Day weekend, I want to take a moment to reflect on what this time really means to me.
Yes, it’s often seen as the unofficial start to summer—a time to gather with friends, enjoy a meal outside, and maybe plant something new. But at its heart, Memorial Day is about remembrance. It’s a time to honor the brave individuals who have generously served our country, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could live freely, safely, and peacefully.
In a world that moves fast, it’s easy to overlook the quiet power of pausing. But this weekend, I invite you to do just that:
- Pause to remember.
- Pause to reflect.
- Pause to grow.
- Pause to feel gratitude.
Gardening is my way of honoring those moments that matter—the still ones, the sacred ones, the ones that remind us that growth doesn’t always look loud. Sometimes it looks like sitting beside your patio garden in the morning light. Sometimes it looks like planting something in someone’s memory. Sometimes it looks like giving thanks—silently, with your hands in the soil.
As poet Beth Nielsen Chapman wrote:
Plant something in memory.
Plant something in hope.
Plant something in celebration.
But plant something.”
So wherever this weekend takes you—into the garden, to the grill, or simply into the arms of those you love—may it be full of meaning. May you remember those who came before, honor those serving today, and celebrate the simple joy of growing something that matters.
With love and gratitude from the garden,
Donna