I remember Mother’s day weekend in 1993. It was the first time I rolled up to a microphone to do a call-in gardening radio show. I did that first show with my friends Hank Prins and Phil Tower at WOOD radio in Grand Rapids.
17 years have flown by or shall we say 884 weekends of gardening talk radio. In June of 1996, my friend Hank Prins suddenly died from a brain tumor and everything changed. I remember at that point I had to make a decision whether to continue to do the show or throw in the “trowel”. I remember being sad, frustrated, in denial, experiencing numerous emotions at one time. I decided to continue on with the Flowerland show and I am glad that I did. My senses were heightened and the link between people, plants and the art of conversation grew more and more evident to me. We are connected as people and rooted in an appreciation of creation, life and our surroundings. I personally think heaven will be a flowering garden in the cool of the day.
Our landscape lost another great gardener and gentleman this past weekend in the passing of Ralph Snodsmith. As host of The Gardening Hotline on WOR, Good Morning America garden contributor and author of gardening books, Ralph Snodsmith shared his love for plants with many. I remember reading his books as I was starting out in garden radio. His “well rooted” advice like “don’t put a $10 plant in a 50 cent hole” is as practical today as it was 15 years ago.
I had the privilege of sitting in as a guest host for Ralph a few weeks ago as he dealt with his illness. Now I’ll never forget that opportunity…just like that first radio show with Hank in 1993. In Ralph Snodsmith’s book Fundamentals of Gardening he states, “I want people to become aware of their plants and their surroundings”. Well I would say Mr. Snodsmith did a great job of it over the course of his lifetime. I for one have learned to be aware of our connections as people, our love for plants, our surroundings and not take them for granted. It was said well years ago by F. Frankfort Moore in A Garden of Peace-a Medley in Quietude….”I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day”.
-Rick Vuyst
