Celebrating Your Gardening Memories This Mother's Day
We were overwhelmed by the many beautiful gardening memories you shared with us in our special Mother’s Day Giveaway. From stories of learning to plant vegetables side-by-side with Mum or Nana, to memories of flower gardens lovingly tended by a special woman in your life – every entry was truly heart-warming.
While we could only choose a few winners, we wanted to celebrate even more of the wonderful stories that touched our hearts.
Below are just some of the memories you shared – reminding us all of the women who have supported, inspired, and passed down a love of gardening through the generations.
Thank you again to everyone who entered. We feel honoured to be part of your gardening journey.
Memories
"When we bought feijoa trees I noticed 1 beautiful feijoa and took great care. My little granddaughter who is allergic for just about anything, came into the kitchen with my one and only feijoa in her hands. Look what I found and her mother cut it in halve and she ate it. She never knew howling screamed inside 😊 the tree is still there with many feijoas." Jeanette
"I always remember mum in the garden growing up teaching us about flowers, but my fondest memories are my most recent. Now having my own established gardens, I love walking around them with mum talking about the plants, how they are growing and what else we can sneak into spots." Claire.
"My dear sister passed last October she was a passionate gardener and artist. When I walk around my property I have so many happy memories the painted garden shed with two van gough paintings and a giant sunflower on the door. The fish pond she dug out and made which home 6 fish. To a garden she developed called Sharrons garden home to lots of interesting perennials and orange her favourite colour flowers. There are two plywood cut out calves which she lovingly painted and adorned. These bring lots of delight to children passing by. Then there is the Lilly bed with bulbs we both chose through mail order catologue. Lilly’s are her favourite flower and in the last 12 months before she passed I ensured she always had a bunch on her table. She helped me plant the fruit and berry trees and rhubarb which she loved. We would both prune the roses and now I have a special rose, a red bush called My Sister gifted to me when Sharron passed. So you see I have my own special field of dreams and memories." Wendy
"My mum was putting vegetable seedlings into holes she’d pre-dug while my daughter (18months) followed along behind her diligently taking them back out again 🤦🏼 Needless to say she was a bit miffed but we did laugh about it later." M
"The best gardening memories are helping my Mum Alison in the garden and always leaving dirtier than I thought I would! She has an amazing garden and has for as long as I can remember, I am now 48 and have my own garden but nothing ever would compare to my Mums ♥️" Nicola
"Our dear little mum (no longer with us) absolutely loved gardening to the extent that when little daisies appeared in the cracks on her driveway, she would look after them by watering them regularly!" Lyn
Memories
"My gardening memory is actually from this summer - seeing my mother and my children growing vegetables together in her garden. Her joy in passing on her knowledge to eager young minds was a delight to see." Charlotte
"My most favourite gardening memories are with my daughter, the wonderful little child who made me a mother. She has an excellent green thumb just like me and we aren't afraid to use them. I have watched her gardening skills grow in the last 7 years having started her young- think crying over not being able to use the big spade to turnover the garden bed at age 3 to helping start seedlings in the carport at the next place we moved to and being so excited at every stage they've progressed to. This year being a bit older, she grew her own strawberries and chillies, has a lovely little herb garden, helps with weeding the veggie plot and helps me care for our houseplants which are thriving just as she does. I can't choose a favourite because the growth is immeasurable and isn't that at the root of why we love gardening." Natalie
"Very many years ago my mother was gifted a gerbera by her adored brother. It refused to flower despite her lavishing care and attention on it. He died suddenly and that day the first bud finally appeared. It flowered on his funeral day. I was just a child then but still remember how much this meant for all the reasons and totally affirmed to me that gardening literally is life!" Clare
Memories
"Mum loved fuschias, and had two exceptional plants in the garden at the side of the front steps. They were stunning. However, to a child, they were lovely to pop. I loved the feeling, and every time would sit on the steps and pop away. Needless to say, I wasn't popular when I was identified as the culprit. In memory and as an apology to Mum, I now grow fuschias, and don't pop them (well maybe the odd one or two shhhhhhhh)." Irene
"My Mum and I have a passion for gardening Best memories which we still continue today is going to the purchase our seeds fertiliser together and home to plant them then the excitement of our flourishing flowers and vegetables picking them together makes it so worthwhile to enjoy veges with family and giving to extended family makes it all worthwhile to share our love from our garden to table and our beautiful cut flowers we love in the home beautiful colours and scents to brighten the home always brings us both a smile of our love from our wee garden." Stephanie
"Oh my where do I start this Garden Memory seems so hard as it’s our first April Birthday and May Mother’s Day without our dear Mum/Gran one special lady! We would visit a garden centre most Wednesday’s or Saturday in the last 4 years regularly since moving from the South Island. Mum/Gran looked forward to this with her granddaughter we called it our garden club day. Although the other 2 granddaughters certainly got to share Grans garden interest with a walk along the balcony of flowers or her small garden area. Naturally it was something we had to adjust to when Gran moving into full time care we made sure an area was her garden and encouraged others at the home to share the vibrant colours with others. In memory of our dear Gran/Mum we have planted extra pansy, roses and blueberries at our own home now. Fond fond memories will continue in our own gardens" Philipa
"My Nan had the most beautiful herbaceous borders. Her dahlia were bright and huge. She admitted to hating housework and just wanting to be in her garden. She raised 7 amazing kids and her 35 grandchildren all loved her and her garden. A magical place to play." Kate
"Gardening has been a part of my life in NZ. This has helped me cope with stress and anxiety. This was my therapy... perhaps in everything especially when feeling lonely and homesick.
In all of my gardening spree,my son was always there. He would help me pull the weeds, water the plants and even grew his own sunflowers which he lovingly looks after everyday. Gardening became our bonding moment. He likes to ask questions,tell stories or share things from school. Now that he is already teenager, his interests shifted but I understand. But I still reminisce those moments when we work in the garden. I sometime share photos of him while he was young doing some gardening and he likes it." Jessica
