Fifteen years ago, Anina’s son Drew asked if he and Lucy could be married in her garden in Dearborn, Michigan. She was both honored and delighted. To prepare for the celebration, she divided her amaryllis bulbs into five planters, with three plants in each. She had wintered them while she was in Florida, and when she returned in the spring, she began watering them five weeks before the wedding.
Every single plant bloomed right on schedule, lining the aisle beautifully for the ceremony. It felt like a small miracle and a deeply meaningful part of that special day.
Later, when Ben and Anina moved to Florida, she brought one of the planters. Over time, that single planter grew to contain nine bulbs. This year, Anina took the planter to The Garden Place in Estero, where she buys plants and regularly takes classes on gardening and plant care. Judy was incredibly kind and immediately took the planter apart, carefully counting all nine bulbs. She then replanted them using high‑quality soil mixed with perlite, ensuring they were well cared for and set up to thrive.
Now, Anina looks forward to enjoying another fifteen years of growth and blooms from those same plants—each one holding a memory of family, love, and care passed along over time.
The Garden Place sponsors the Gulf Coast Garden Club, and she wanted to share this story as a wonderful example of how they support our gardening community. They offer far more than just plants and soil—they provide knowledge, generosity, and genuine help that enriches our gardening experiences.
