Welcoming an Old Friend

This small purple Columbine, while new to my current garden, is a direct descendant of the ones in my family's gardens from many years ago.

G A R D E N I N G — Columbines first came into my awareness in the early 1970s. My mother, a visiting nurse in our town, was given several Columbine plants from a patient of hers. Everyone in town knew of my family's love of gardening, our yard was in bloom from March until November. We were often given plants by people thinning them out from their own yards, or given them as a thank you for something. Those Columbines begat many, many plants during the next 30 years the house was in our possession, and we gladly gave them to friends as well. While that house was sold several years ago, my former next door neighbor still lives there, and has given me plenty of great perennials in the seven years I've lived in this house. The Columbine shown here today, was transplanted from Mary's yard to mine last year, and is a direct descendant of those first Columbines given to my mother so many years ago. Welcome Back, old friend!