The Relationship Between Plants And Humans

December 30, 2011 Huckleberry Nursery Education, Human Interest

Occasionally we might publish a blog post that strikes a chord within us that is written by someone other than our staff writers here at Huckleberry Nursery.  Today our guest blogger is Shelley Webb, the Intentional Caregiver and North Idaho resident.  She was her Fathers caregiver for the last four years of his life.  Because of that experience she started a website to help those who are caring for their loved ones, The Intentional Caregiver.  She’s also a very good customer of ours.  This is a story she published earlier this year and it is a good one to bring to a close 2011.  We hope you enjoy!

The Relationship Between Plants And Humans

by Shelley Webb
The Lady’s Slipper orchids bloomed in my garden 2 weeks ago.  And now they are gone.  This is the second time that they have bloomed since they were planted and each time I see them it is a melancholy experience. You see, the Lady’s Slipper orchid (genus cypripedium -I don’t know the species of mine) is my absolute favorite flower in the whole world (the pink ones in particular, but they are almost impossible to obtain as they are considered endangered).  I have the yellow ones…and these yellow ones were taken from my father’s garden at the lake cabin he loved and where he spent 5 months out of every year until he became too ill to travel. The cabin was built on land that my grandparents once owned.  Two of my other uncles had cabins on the same beachfront property.  My parents received these orchids from my Uncle and Aunt who brought them from their home.  So whenever these orchids bloom, I cherish every moment I see them.

These yellow Lady Slippers made their way to North Idaho all the way from Christopher Lake just North of Prince Albert in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Additionally, my mother secretly placed one in my wedding bouquet (she was a floral designer and so, of course, she provided my gorgeous flowers. “NO carnations”, she said.)  I pulled out that Lady Slipper before I tossed my bouquet and took it with me on my honeymoon.  Poor Mom…now that I think of it, I should have hired someone else so she could have relaxed (but she probably wouldn’t have gone for that idea anyway).

The Lady’s Slippers didn’t bloom last year while my father was living the last few weeks of his life.  The greenery came up….but no blooms.  Perhaps they knew something was wrong.  My father pondered several times why they weren’t blooming and I had no answer.  “I’m sure they’ll be here next year” I’d say.  In my mind I was thinking, “…but sadly, you won’t be here to see them.”

There will always be things that happily remind you of your parent, spouse or loved-one.  Be sure to take time now to determine what those treasures are and how you can keep them in your life after your loved one is no longer there.  You can believe that if I ever move from this house that those Lady’s Slippers are going with me!

And someday I’m going to find some pink ones!

Shelley Webb is truly the voice of experience when it comes to caregiving.  With more than 30 years of service as a Registered Nurse, Geriatric Care Manager and caregiver to her father, she has “been there and done that” both personally and professionally.  An “overnight” caregiver to her father, her priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace.
As “The Intentional Caregiver” and President of The Eldercare Support Groups, Shelley and her network of experts have become the definitive source for educational materials, encouragement and successful strategies to enable the caregiver to create an easier, less stressful and even more rewarding role. Currently a consultant, coach and advisor to caregivers world-wide, she is also a volunteer advocacy ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Association, a panel expert at ShareCare.com (a new online health and wellness platform created by Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Jeff Arnold – founder of WebMD), as well as a speaker, and an expert writer for several on-line “boomer”, aging and caregiving resources. Shelley’s passion is to help calm, simplify and enrich the lives of caregivers of aging parents and loved ones.  She believes that by being intentional in their caregiving role, all of that and more is possible.
She resides in a rural area in beautiful northern Idaho with her 2 miniature schnauzers, 2 desert tortoises and over 20 chickens.  She considers herself a gourmet cook in training, a wine aficionado and enjoys gardening, reading and dancing.  She is blessed with 2 awesome grown up children.

Eldercare Support, Huckleberry Nursery, Lady Slippers, North Idaho, North Idaho Garden Centers, Phil Anderson, Shelley Webb