Community member Tim Johnson passed earlier this year. He leaves behind beautiful garden designs. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen

November 1st is known to many as All Saint’s Day. It is a day to remember those who have left our daily lives during the previous year.

This year feels different, as such unforeseen times have left things feeling a bit unfinished in ways not seen in our lifetime.

A request to capture some photographs as a personal request for a friend led to the need for a bit of storytelling.

Community member Tim Johnson passed earlier this year, when the world changed, but his contributions will remain for years. I had the good fortune to pose questions to him before his journey took a new path.  

While the goal was to put this together before he passed that it was not accomplished. Perhaps today is the right time to finish as we prepare to enter the holiday season.

This time of year, many put the garden beds to sleep for the winter. They get bulbs in the ground and perhaps place a layer of straw to keep the beds nice for the “volunteers”, that will peek their heads through once again come spring.

Tim passed in April of this year, but his gift to his wife and their community will live forever. According to Tim, he was, “Most inspired by color and the richness of nature’s diversity”. 

Tim and wife Beth had been learning about the plants that grow well in this climate. Some of their favorites were Russian sage and many spring bulbs, especially daffodils. An added bonus for the pair was that these all seem to grow, without much water, and required very little attention, according to Tim.

The question set to Tim was how he got started using landscape as design?

“This bank was covered in river rock, which was very monochromatic,” he said. “The stairs added interest as well as providing access to the plants, most of which are in planters because of the lack of soil. The original river rock was included to add interest and provide ground cover.”  

Tim explained that the idea belonged to his wife Beth, but she wants the world to know that Tim was indeed the artist. She also shared that the landscape almost designed itself, but that he persevered, even though he found himself fighting rock at every level. His design, includes some eye-catching pieces that accentuate the trip through the garden.

Tim’s design encourages a variety of miniature paths on the journey. These included pumpkin cheesecake, fire chief and taking time for reflection in an actual Certified Wildlife Habitat.

While he may have been “untrained as an artist”, Tim enjoyed expressing his artistic interests through many media including calligraphy, drawing, small construction projects and finally gardening and landscape.

As the world struggles for normalcy in the pandemic, the winter months can be a good time to take on a new hobby. Gardening is one that brings solace to many, getting their hands in the elements and creating life from seed. During a season that will find us indoors, requesting catalogs, purchasing seeds, planning for the future and starting new life and a new adventure, just might be the key to happiness or passion.

Community member Tim Johnson passed earlier this year. He leaves behind beautiful garden designs. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen

Community member Tim Johnson passed earlier this year. He leaves behind beautiful garden designs. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen

Community member Tim Johnson passed earlier this year. He leaves behind beautiful garden designs. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen

Community member Tim Johnson passed earlier this year. He leaves behind beautiful garden designs. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen