A DECADE IN THE GARDEN

Ten years ago we looked at the neglected yard in front of the Magee House in Carlsbad and decided that a make - over was long overdue. Easier said than done; half-dead shrubs surrounded by weeds and layers of fallen eucalyptus leaves were not the stuff for juicy mulches or soil improvement.

But we had willing spirits in Katherine Chaffee, Patty Hoenigman, Nils Lunnerdal and Don Miller, who were recruited from Quail Gardens. John Futtrell and Ivy Bodin came from Vista to join our own loyal members: Bastian Atterbury, Susan Carneiro, Joan Cave, Susan and German Gutierrez, Ann L'Heureux, Marge Howard-Jones and Kip McBane .

Since that time, some have moved on and others, like Gerry and Ted Matter and Mary Tornborg, from the Carlsbad Garden Club, and Rita Francis have joined in the fun.

At first, we gardened only spasmodically with accordingly slow progress. However, since it has become a regular first Saturday of the month event, the garden has thrived (as have the weeds!) We modestly look back on our handiwork with satisfaction and gratitude for all the helping hands.

We are especially mindful of four gardeners who are no longer with us. Nils Lunnerdal, who created our Native Plant garden, died three years ago. He had propagated and nurtured many of the specimens in our garden and his interest in what we were doing was a great inspiration. Two years ago, we lost Ann L'Heureux, whose wit and energy made her a great gardening companion. Last year we said good-bye to John Futtrell, he of the gracious Southern charm and big box of doughnuts to sustain us in our labors. Then, just this June, Katharine Chaffee, suddenly passed away just ten days after tending her beloved Herb Garden with us..

This succession of losses has prompted us to honor our fellow gardeners in some simple way. Katharine's family held a small memorial service for her at Magee Park on August 25, and we were pleased to place a specially designed ceramic tile with her name on it under the pine tree in the Herb Garden. For Nils, Ann and John we made cement stepping stones with their names on them and placed them in the garden.

To quote the noted English gardener Gertrude Jekyll, "the love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies." Our friends will always be with us in the garden.