Life in the Garden

Matters of Life and Death

memorial garden

Prime California Real Estate For Sale

The crypt directly above Marilyn Monroe’s final resting place is available.  Bidding starts at $500,000 on Ebay for one of the most expensive pieces of real estate on the market, based on a per-square-foot basis.

Currently occupied by Richard Poncher, his widow said that when he was dying, Poncher approached her with a request. “He said, ‘If I croak, if you don’t put me upside down over Marilyn, I’ll haunt you the rest of my life.’ ”

Right after the funeral, Mrs. Poncher told the funeral director of her husband’s wish. “I was standing right there, and he turned him over,” she said.

Source: LA Times

Adrienne Shelly Memorial Garden

After several years of planning, a Memorial Garden will be dedicated in Abingdon Square Park in New York City, to the memory of Adrienne Shelly, who was killed in 2006.

“This has been a long but very satisfying journey to honor my late wife in the park she loved so much, across from the building in which she lived for many years, worked and died.” said Shelly’s husband, Andy Ostroy,who helped design the memorial garden.

Ostroy chose to stock the plot with Nikko blue hydrangeas (symbolizing understanding)

Obedience, hardy and tolerant of clay soil. Symbolizes graciousness and strength.

Liatris, also known as Blazing Star, symbolizes love.

Campanula, also known as the Bellflower symbolizes gratitude.

and Nepeta, also known as catnip, is lemon-scented with heart-shaped leaves.

Shelly’s memorial garden will be dedicated with a memorial plaque on Aug. 3.

Founded in 1836, and re-opened in 2004, Abingdon Square Park is a tiny, luscious triangle in Greenwich Village. According to neighbors, the park seems almost holy, like a sacrament in the summertime.

The park is dominated by the bronze statue of a soldier holding a flag, the Abingdon “Doughboy,” was designed to “honor the brave men who went forth from this neighborhood to join the armed forces of the United States during the World War.”

Planning a memorial garden or tree dedication? Check out our memorial stones.

Yes, We Sell Rocks

vintage dove postcard


Jessica wanted to create a memorial stone for a one of the dispatchers at the police station in Michigan.

We can do custom work but the logo she wanted to use was too small and multi-layered.

What else could we use? Police badge was out of the question, she wasn’t a cop. What about the town mascot? Turns out, it’s is a Beaver.

The answer was a resounding “No”.

How about a dove for the dispatcher? The messenger.

dove stained glass

Client loved it!

“I just received the stone this morning and it looks great.  Thanks again for all of your help.”

Stained glass image courtesy of Down East Stained Glass, check  their site for more beautiful custom stained glass designs.


Build Me Up Buttercup

Snowdrops and daffodils are strong and beautiful.  They survive  harsh weather conditions, neglect, and continue to multiply.

City planners and developers love the Bradford Pear tree and it’s always an early bloomer.

The Bradford Pear has a distinct odor. Lately? I’ve been smelling a strong cat pee odor.  Turns out?  It’s the Bradford Pear trees!

Forsythia brings the explosion of early spring color. My neighbor sculpts and manicures his bush, trying to keep it contained. Personally, I think it looks better on the wild side, like fireworks.