Ellen is a Mansion’s Memory Care Unit resident and a regular in my Meditation Class.

She doesn’t know my name but knows and remembers Zinnia’s. I’ve come to love Ellen; she is a gentle and caring spirit.

She has memory issues, but as I know her, she misses nothing and has a gentle heart. Paryese, the Mansion Activities Director, told me last week that Ellen loves caring for plants as much or more than anything.

She wondered if I could find some and bring them to her.

Ellen has never asked me for anything but doesn’t need to. There is nothing I would not do for her if I could. She meditates with seriousness and conviction. Yet she is so very much alive.

She knows exactly what to do.

I went to Country Power Products and found a windowsill full of them and brought them to the Mansion last Friday.

I bought soil, containers, and some plastic cases to hold the water. They take up all of her windowsills; she was excited to show them to me and tell them what she is doing to care for them.

They are lucky plants. Her love for them is touching.

Ellen was thrilled and is already taking excellent and conscientious care of them. She waters them every night and feels the soil for dryness every morning. She told me in detail how she watches them, feels the soil, smells it, and holds the plants up to the light.

She is very proud of the way she takes care of them.

I have learned this is a beautiful gift for someone like Ellen. She loves taking care of things, being responsible, being active, and having tasks to perform.

She has sweetness and gentleness; she is quick to smile and laugh. She always wants to know how I am and asks if I am feeling better, even though I have never been sick.

She and I have developed a special connection; we always smile when we see one another and tell a joke or two. She goes in and out sometimes, and I go where she goes. She always asks about Zinnia, and I make sure to have one ready for her. She doesn’t mind hearing it over and over again.

It’s called Zinnia and the Squirrel. Ellen always laughs and laughs.

We know each other, and it meant a great deal to me to see how happy she was to have some plants in her room to care for. I’ve noticed that real gardeners never lose their love of caring for plants and flowers, even when they can recall little else.