My Mother

Frances Ruth Gordon, 1920 - 2013

My mother Frances Ruth Gordon died last Thursday aged 93.  She was a passionate gardener and left behind a trail of wonderful gardens, dug from virgin soil. Her first garden was under the Ruahine Ranges on a Taihape farm that Dad and Grandpa created by clearing native bush (so close are our colonial roots).

Mother and Dad moved closer to town 30 years ago and again she created an extraordinary garden. At 84, mourning the loss of my father, she moved into a town section with an empty back yard and from that she once again fashioned the most beautiful garden. At her farewell on Sunday her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren chose flowers from her lovely springtime garden to lay on her coffin. Vale dear Mother.

My mother's rocking chair in her last garden

Mother's Hydrangeas