The Pipitone Hope Patch

March 17th, 2007

Hello, Hope Patch gardeners!

As I promised in my previous post, I will be updating you on the progress of my Hope Patch this year. If you want to review the purpose and 5 steps for creating a Hope Patch, please read the posts from last May.

Last fall, I planted a variety of tulip bulbs in my Hope Patch. My Hope Patch doesn’t take much land in my backyard, but it provides a lot of room for “spiritual inspiration.” Here’s a picture of this little garden.

Picture of Pipitone Hope Patch

As you can see, I have a sign posted on the fence that says, “Pipitone Hope Patch.” (I’ll give you a close-up photo in the next post.) It was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit today in Streamwood, Illinois on a clear and sunny day. The tulips have broken ground and are about one inch high. (See a coming post on the “Growing of the Green.”)

It’s too late to plant tulip bulbs for this spring, since they need to be planted before the fall frost (usually October or November.) However, you can still set up a Hope Patch for summer flowers. Remember to plan your garden and plant wisely. Happy Hope Patching!

Dave Pipitone, The Rainbow Chronicles

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As the Garden Grows…

March 17th, 2007

Recently, I was doing some shopping at Michael’s Art Center and passed a Sale Display with different art plaques. Since I like sales and art, I stopped to browse. I found an attractive wall plaque, with the saying:

“As the Garden Grows, so shall the Gardener.” I liked the saying, so I bought the plaque. See the picture below:

Picture of Garden stone

This saying seems to have several meanings. For example, as the garden grows more beautiful, the gardener’s spirit grows more joyful. Or, as the shoots emerge, the gardener must take more responsibility to nurture, water and take care of them. And even, as the garden continues to spread and mature, its fate is linked to the care of the gardener.

Every year, I plant tulip bulbs in the fall in our Hope Patch. Stay tuned for more updates on this year’s garden.

For more information on planting, nurturing and caring for a tulip garden, visit http://www.tulipreview.com

Dave Pipitone, Author, The Rainbow Chronicles

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Five Vital Elements of a Hope Patch

May 31st, 2006

Does this idea of creating a Hope Patch for your family appeal to you? Do you have a family member, a friend, or a pet that you miss or are grieving? If so, you may wish to consider creating a Hope Patch as a remembrance garden. Here are five things to consider:

 

1. Choose to plant flowers and colors that were favorites of your family or friend. If he or she loved roses, plant one or more rose bushes. If bright orange was the favorite color, plant orange tulips, dahlias and tiger lilies.

 

2. Get a customized garden memorial stone with the name of your beloved. Or choose one with a comforting verse that will inspire you with hope whenever you see or read it.

 

3. Position your Hope Patch so that you see it easily every day. Don’t tuck it on the far side of a house or the back of the lot where you can’t see it. A Hope Patch is made to be seen by you — and others.

 

4. Tell others about your Hope Patch. Let them know about your hope for a better future for those who have passed on. Hope is contagious and healing — make sure that another person “catches” it.

 

5.  Add to your Hope Patch every year. This may include new statues, more flowers, a bush and other things to enlarge the impact of your garden. Real hope grows as it is exercised. Commit to making your Hope Patch grow and you will be amazed how much it will mean to you.

 

Remember, a Hope Patch is not just for those who have passed on — it is for you to hold them in your memory and imagine they are in a better place. Creating a remembrance garden as a Hope Patch is a life giving activity for you.

 

 

Copyright 2006, Dave Pipitone

For more inspiration, please visit http://www.thehopepatch.com.

 

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Welcome to the Hope Patch

May 20th, 2006

Hello and welcome. I am Dave Pipitone, owner and administrator of The Hope Patch blog and website.

This blog is devoted to the important role that the virtue of hope plays in our lives to live with purpose, meaning, and peace.

What is hope? Webster’s dictionary defines hope as a desire for some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it; confidence in a future event; the highest degree fo well-founded expectaton of good.

To put that in plain words, hope is directed towards obtaining something good in your life. It starts with a desire for something good (love, peace, joy, meaning, contribution, a great marriage, friendship, happy family, and more.) Then, hope grows as we realize the good we desire take place.

Hope is a spiritual gift from a loving and gracious God who desires that all humanity live well and abundantly in love, happiness, peace and justice.

The Hope Patch is that area of our lives where we plant our hopes and dreams. The Hope Patch is based on the inspirational family story, The Rainbow Chronicles: A Bedtime Story for a New Day. (For more information, visit www.therainbowchronicles.com.)

Gardens are a great start to begin planting a hope patch. My very first hope patch began with death of my wife’s uncle, Don Jacobson, in early November, 1999. Our Catholic parish had a memorial service on All Soul’s Day in honor of the deceased. The parish offered a tulip bulb, along with a verse encouraging us to plant the bulb knowing that God would bring new life from suffering and death. We planted that bulb at the base of a shepherd’s crook that Don made for us for a hanging plant. We formed a little semi-circular area to be our Hope Patch. Every year, we plant new annuals in that area, knowing that God will bring about new life to us and our family, just like bulbs, seedlings and small flower plants will grow into something beautiful with time.

I will post articles, thoughts and ideas about how to do practical things to build and live in hope.

I invite you to register and participate as a blog member by sharing your stories of hope and meaning. I also encourage you to plant a Hope Patch in your yard or kitchen, to remind your family that good will and peace are worth striving for in life. Watch the developments for our website, www.thehopepatch.com.

Until next time, peace and God’s blessing to you.

- Dave Pipitone, Author, The Rainbow Chronicles

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