Memorial Garden Benches

This is my grandmother’s memorial bench on the north side of my garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins0

Memorial Garden Benches

There are many ways people remember friends and relatives who have died. The US hoiiday Memorial Day at the end of May is a time to honor those who died in military service. There are also monuments on cemeteries, plaques on buildings and a number of other ways people memorialize lost ones.

I’m not originally from Missouri; I chose to live here. When I lose relatives, they are scattered around the country, getting buried in family plots associated with their connections in those places.

As I lost my few relatives, I started to keep their memories alive by adding garden benches in their honor.

Originally these benches were different colors. A couple of years ago I decided to paint them all bluebird blue so they could be easily spotted throughout the limestone hillside garden.

The first bench I added was in honor of my grandmother, who played a very special place in my life. She was a librarian among other careers and hosted lovely tea parties when I visited. She has a bench at the north side of my property where she can watch sunsets and enjoy the garden unfolding. She would have enjoyed doing both at the same time.

When I visit that part of the garden, I think of her as I sit on the bench and enjoy a sunset. Or watch something new growing.

I still have the first gardening book I ever received. It was from my grandmother and spurred me into gardening.

My uncle’s garden bench next to the goldfish pond, he loved to fish. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Her son, my Uncle Dave, was the closest thing I had to a father. This kind, quiet man with a twinkle in his eye was an Old School gentleman. He lived in an apartment in San Francisco with two cats after his wife died.

He loved to fish so it was very simple to add this bench in front of my goldfish pond in his honor.

When he was no longer able to fish, one year I took him a small fishing rod with a catnip toy at the end of it. Maybe he couldn’t reel in salmon any more, I told him , but I thought he might get lucky with a cat fish.

I can still remember his laughing when one of his cats jumped on the catnip lure.

My mother’s memorial bench at the top of the hill facing south. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

My uncle’s sister, my mother, loved my garden. Whenever she would visit she would greet me warmly and the first chance she had she would walk the garden.

I placed her memorial bench on the top at the south side so she could get a full view of the bay window gardens and apiary. I am developing a nearby flower bed where I will move some of the Iris I have from her garden. Iris where her favorite US flowers.

I like having these memorial garden benches so easily accessible. I can’t help but think of the people who they represent and they help keep their memories alive and close to my heart.

Charlotte