Garden of Remembrance

Yes, I will remember this garden, viewed as it was last Wednesday when we attended the cremation of a very dear friend. My thoughts go something like this... I was feeling sad and emotional, reflective and quiet. My husband and I had arrived a little early for the service and it was a beautiful day, so we chose to walk around the grounds with each other and our memories. The green space around the building (why do I find it so difficult to call it by its name?, the Crematorium), was pleasant. Large, mature trees gave shade and that calming rustling noise that leaves make in a little breeze. But when we came to the Garden of Remembrance what did we find? Municipal planting at its most vivid. Imagine large orange marigolds mixed with large yellow marigolds in serried ranks, edged with buzy lizzies in two different shades of pink! Glaring at me whilst I glared at them for disturbing my equilibrium and for not helping me to be peaceful, reflective or quiet. Far from being eased on this most difficult of days, I was distracted. I found myself pondering on who could possibly have thought that this seaside roundabout planting scheme was suitable here. What would have been wrong with muted, pale colours- white, green, pale blue and pink, cream and some soft waving grasses?

Better to try and forget this floral faux pas and remember instead the exquisite arrangement of flowers picked out of the garden which was placed on top of the wicker coffin. Nothing could have been more beautiful or appropriate for him. Lilies, allium, catalpa blossom, eryngiums and grey green foliage and then the bunches of sweet smelling sweetpeas which his friends added as we said our farewells.