Thursday, September 1, 2011

How do you want to be remembered?

I recently attended a social gathering in a part of town I’d never been to. Much to my surprise the hosts live in the same neighborhood that Dulcy Mahar (garden columnist for the Oregonian newspaper) lived, gardened and passed away in. This small community is an oasis, only two roads lead in (or out). It feels a little exclusive, or as my grandpa would have said “hoity toity.” I was unprepared for what I saw as we drove the streets looking for our destination. Pink flamingos. In yard after yard. Some yards were obviously those of gardeners (or at least those that hired gardeners). Others were not, but they still had the flamingos. You see Dulcy had taken up the cause of the pink flamingo in her weekly column for the Oregonian. They were a little tacky perhaps, but lots of fun. And she knew how to have fun in the garden. So her neighbors are saluting her spirit with a flamingo display. What a lovely tribute. We should all be so fortunate to be remembered in such a way.

21 comments:

  1. What a lovely tribute!
    You know, I have a bit of my garden that I call "Mini Danger" in tribute to YOU. It has the one agave that is hardy for me, some opuntia, and various hardy succulents.

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  2. It is a lovely tribute, being from FL I don't like the plastic flamingos.

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  3. Sweet - great tribute! I love them and have 4 in my yard. The Don Featherstone pinks are actually signed (in the plastic mold). They're the retro originals.

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  4. I think all those pink flamingos are sweet, the meaning of them even better!

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  5. Wow, Loree, I wish I could have seen you jumping out and in of the car taking all those pictures!!!

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  6. The pink flamingo is the unofficial symbol of my profession, at least when I was in college in the mid-80's and to those with a sense of humor. Cool 'hood!

    Too bad roadrunners might beat them over rocks and eat them where I live...

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  7. As much as I hate those things...that's pretty sweet :-)

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  8. Greensparrow, get out! You made my day! Perhaps someday you'll share a picture?

    Darla, yes I suppose you are "allowed" a higher flamingo awareness. Do they even sell the plastic ones there?

    Deb, a hardcore flamingo fan!!! Yay!

    Mark and Gaz, agreed, that's why I had to share.

    Kate, no jumping took place in the making of this post. I returned a few days later (after the event) and since it was such a lovely day I just went for a nice walk around the neighborhood. My presence was noted by many...the funniest being the kids swimming in a poll behind a short wall. One was up on a diving board or something and could see me walk by, he actually shouted "stranger alert, stranger alert"...I fully expected armed guards to jump from the bushes.

    DD, oh my...Roadrunner violence! Takes me back to my Wile E. Coyote cartoon watching days!

    scott, you hate the flamingos!? Uhm...well perhaps a pair just might show up in your garden sometime...

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  9. May we all be remembered in such a fantastic way!

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  10. How wonderful. Thank you for sharing that.

    Wyatt's Mom

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  11. That must have taken forever to get all those photos! Kudos to you. What a wonderful tribute. Dulcy was obviously a very well-loved human being. I just wish I could have met her.

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  12. So sweet and tart at the same time. I think Dulcy would be delighted! I'd love to see this tribute travel all over metro Portland...my new trio of flamingos are now in her honor over at Longview Ranch.

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  13. Les, yes!

    Wyatt's mom, of course.

    Grace, not at all, it was a wonderful walk around a neighborhood. I to wish I could have met her, preferably while touring her garden.

    MulchMaid, love your flamingos!

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  14. And to think that some of those very same neighbors were aghast when Dulcy's flamingoes first showed up. To be so beloved is truly a gift...my eyes are moist.

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  15. A wonderful thing. She must have touched many hearts.

    Here down the road, someone puts out eight of them at Christmas, for rows of two, attached to a red sleigh with gold reins. Yes, they're wearing antlers. It's fun to see it.

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  16. Fracking awesome!! Awesome. This is Portland?

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  17. ricki, mine too, when I first saw them and then later when I was editing the photos and realized just how many there were!

    Hoover, I would love to see that (hint hint)...

    Chuck B, yep...good ole Portland!

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  18. That's wonderful. Dulcy was and is obviously well-loved.

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  19. What a lovely tribute indeed. I love all these photos. I just read a bit about Dulcy. What a delight. I look forward to reading more about her. I love garden flamingos!
    -kelly, bay area

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  20. I am soooo happy! This is wonderful, thank you, Loree!

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  21. AnonymousJuly 19, 2014

    Love it! I always enjoyed reading her columns. What a wonderful tribute!

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