Sunday, June 18, 2017

Ryan Gainey: Father's Day Thanks

Last year Ryan Gainey died.  International Garden Design star, many in Atlanta, GA had the good fortune to know him from the 80's before well-deserved fame arrived.
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Before fame Ryan was merely eccentric. Before fame he was already Atlanta's Garden Design star.  Our good fortune was Ryan taking us along for his ride of knowledge.  He merely increased his Garden Design mentoring as time passed.  Sharing his garden for all, at every opportunity.
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A recent article, below, packs an epiphany, for me,

A famous Decatur gardener died last year. What happened to his house and garden?

Reading the article, above, gave me a fuller picture of Ryan.  Ryan the man without children, Ryan a gay man, had been patriarchal towards all of us loving gardens, all the while we knew of his name.


Pic, above, here.

It's what Ryan did with his own garden, in his will, any father would do.  Love his child.  And what a child.  A child of beauty, strength, and great depths of historical knowledge, embracing all who enter, bestowing the pact Ryan had with Providence.
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This is too small but I'll go there anyway.  Thank you Ryan.  Happy Father's Day.


Ryan Gainey
Pic, above, here.
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Garden & Be Well,   XO T

2 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

I was inspired by Ryan's gardens many years ago.

Thanks for bringing up memories. FlowerLady

Liz Van Buren said...

Thank you for writing this. I was stunned when I heard of his tragic death and there wasn't enough said about the passing of this lovely man, at least where I am in Oregon. Yes, indeed, happy father's day sweet Ryan - I miss your sweet soul.