In a just and perfect world, my friend, Karen Cole, and I would swap lives. You see, Karen has retired and lives in her dream home in the mountains of Brevard, NC. Retired, for Pete's sake...and she is two years younger than I am! I, on the other hand, am still in the work force. Working, as it happens, here at Park Seed/Wayside Gardens, the absolute Mecca for those who love gardening. I firmly believe that Karen, being a committed and extraordinary gardener, should work at Park Seed. And I, being both older and horticulturally challenged, am the one who should be retired. Ah, well.
I've known Karen since we were both students at Furman University in Greenville, SC. We were both clarinet players and music majors. We both had stick straight, waist-length, naturally blonde hair. And we even were roommates my senior year (her junior year). We've been close friends ever since, even though we haven't lived in the same city since college days.
I first realized just how committed Karen is to her gardening several years ago when she called me on the telephone to tell me about a birthday present she had just received:
"Claire, you will never in a million years guess what my wonderful husband just gave me for my birthday!!"
"Oh, I don't know--Bob's a pretty special guy. Did he give you diamonds? A new car?? A getaway to Greece?!?"
"Oh no, much better than any of those things!!!"
"Really?! Well, c'mon and tell me--what did he give you?"
"A whole truckload of mushroom compost!!!!!! Isn't he the best!!"
HUH? Whatever floats yer boat, I guess!
Karen dedicated her professional life to education in the Richland One school district in Columbia, South Carolina. While she started out as a band director, she ended up playing a critical role in educating other teachers about how to use technology in the classroom. Now that she has retired (hrmmmph--the nerve of that young whippersnapper!), she is channeling her energy into music once again and also into deepening her knowledge of gardening.
I asked Karen about her progress toward becoming a Master Gardener, and here's her reply:
"I am a Master Gardener Intern until I finish my service hours in December. Right now, I work on the Transylvania County Master Gardener Phone Clinic and Walk in Center on Wednesdays. You learn so much there, having to research and solve the problems folks ask about. We have a dynamite gardener guru, Marion Buehler, who is always there to guide me to the right answers. She is a retired landscaper and is also a garden writer - a very good one, too!
"I also help out in our demonstration herb garden, rain garden, and help with coordination and publicity of our spring and fall workshops. In addition, I write a little for our Master Gardener column in the Transylvania Times. My next article will be on color theory in the garden."
Of course, the best part of gardening is actually being outside, digging in the dirt. And a brand new hillside home requires lots of landscaping attention. (Did I mention that Bob, in addition to being a good husband, retired educator, and college instructor, is also an expert carpenter? Bob and Karen are doing all of the inside finishing and cabinetry in their new home themselves. Makes me tired just to think about it!) Karen sent me these pictures of her progress in getting the "lower garden" established.
First step: sod the area
Second step: add flowers
Third step: mulch like mad
And finally, admire the view!
Luckily for me, the lower garden is right outside the guestroom window, so I'll get to enjoy the view shown at the top of this entry every time I visit.
Do you have a great gardening friend? Share you stories and photos with everyone by emailing them to ckuhl@parkseed.com.
