During difficult days, Jamie brought flowers to his wife’s mother to brighten her time at the Community Hospice House. Now he brings large bouquets every Monday morning to thank the staff and brighten other patients’ days, handing off to another volunteer who arranges them into vases and distributes them throughout the House. He will keep up deliveries in those tall Folger’s buckets while blooms last in his remote cutting garden.
If you have seen the flowers, you understand that Jamie is a serious horticulturalist. When friends moved to town, he asked and was quickly given a sunny plot to work his magic. He began with 90% vegetables and then in recent years migrated away to mostly flowers. He says harvesting is his least favorite activity, but he will always grow tomatoes and paprika peppers.
Walking to the garden, you are struck by the riot of colors and tremendous height of the plants. He grows most of the plants from seed in his basement. He protects the plot with his “little Fort Knox” electrified wire fence and inner chicken barrier to keep out groundhogs and rabbits. He regrets that some fat groundhogs, protected by well-fed bellies, manage to flop over the wire.
Just inside the gate, he plucks a sweet pea flower to share the scent. Much of the height comes from several trellises conserving space and giving vines lots of territory. A beautiful purple vine drapes across the back of the garden and is dripping with pea bean pods. His amazing zinnias, taller than the gardener, occupy a large section. His wife gave away his pinching back technique to achieve more blooms. Another surprising flower is his unique dahlias. He recruits his niece and nephew to name them. Currently they are working on a yellow group, the Banana collection: Banana Fee, Banana Fi, Banana Faux, and Banana Fum.
Jamie enjoys sharing flowers with loved ones. He brings flowers to dinner parties. If you are lucky enough to be on his Christmas list, you may receive his home-made smoked paprika.
Thank you, Jamie, for sharing your gardening joy and the nostalgia of home-grown summer bouquets with us at Community Hospice House.
