Web Special
Susannah’s Garden Essay Contest Finalists

Grand Prize Winner’s Entry
Svetlana Grobman
Columbia, MO

The year I was born, my father planted a lilac bush in front of my grandparents’ Moscow apartment house. Every spring, my grandmother measured me against its fragrant whiteness.
When I became an adult and my grandparents passed away, I sometimes went to see that house and the lilac in their memory.

Life with its intricacies took me away from Moscow and my family, making the United States my new home. Here, when my grandson was born, I too planted a lilac -- in my Midwestern garden to remind me of my past and, also, to watch my Alex grow.

1st Prize Winner’s Entry
Vicky McCoy
Middletown, DE

Our home is only three years old, so creating gardens on the otherwise blank canvas has been a labor of love shared by our family. The plants were given from the homes of our family and friend, because money was tight after our wedding. When we look out over the sea of colors and textures that fill the space between our patio and the woods line, we are looking at a family quilt. Our garden is a place where our family laughs, plays, rests and even mourns together. It is, without a doubt, our favorite “room” in the house.

2nd Prize Winner’s Entry
Susan Craig
Mechanicsville, VA

It was hard to move when my husband’s company relocated. My mother asked my family each to donate a plant or a cutting from their gardens for our new home. I have lilac from my grandmother, daylilies from my sister and rosemary from my mother. When we work in my garden, my family feels closer to me. When they come to visit, they can take the "family garden" tour. Sometimes, they choose something to take back to their own plots. We may be far in distance, but we share one big garden.

3rd Prize Winner’s Entry
Yvonne White
Granite City, IL

I was raised with my great grandmother, Mom. We always worked in the yard together. Our family had a large garden with every type of vegetable. Mom instilled a love for the earth in me. She passed away when I was 9. Little did she know that the best seed ever planted was still growing. It took years to develop but I found the love of gardening stays with you. Now I share that love with my children in the garden and tell the story of that seed planted long ago. In turn I hope that I too have planted a seed.