We’re excited and looking forward to our daughter’s wedding in June. She and Dianne have found and ordered the dress. Whew! My assigned role in the planning process is the flowers. For a picture of Kathryn and Pat, the groom to be click here...
Diagnosed with cancer in October, I immediately began a six month program of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Dianne and Kathryn were there to help me through the rough parts. And I want to say "thank you" to all the friends and family who helped so much and prayed us through the tough times.
The treatments were successful. And I had a chance to thank the doctors, nurses, and those who support the cancer program at Overlake Hospital when I was invited to be the guest speaker at their annual fund raising event, "Perfect Settings." For a copy of the speech click here…
With a summer free, I began working to enter the Arboretum Foundation annual competition for amateur gardeners. Amateur seems to me to be the wrong adjective, nonprofessional might be better. I’ve studied and enjoyed gardening for over 20 years. Entering the competition was easy. Fixing up the garden for an official visiting from the judges was more work than I ever imagined. When the day of inspection arrived I was as nervous as a new father, excited but anxious about the experts’ opinions.
The judges were kind and complimentary of a “new” garden. Many of the plants were nursery fresh where I tried to cover the bare spots in a big back yard. While I didn’t win the Grand Prize, the Golden Scoop Award was welcome recognition for sweat, scrapes and bug bites accumulated during the late nights working to create the Ideal Garden.
An award winning design in my own backyard has generated multiple requests for design advice. I am now available to provide design consultation and garden and landscape design services as time and schedules permit.