父亲的“妙手生花”

When I was growing up in Ireland during World War Two， I lived in a soldier’s cottage on an acre of land that my adoptive father received because he fought in WW1. He was a tall wellbuilt man， fifty years older than me with toil-worn hands from working as the foreman in the goods’department of the Bagenalstown Railway Station and cultivating the loveliest garden in the cottages. His favorite was the 1）lilac tree that perfumed the parlor through the open window. Hosts of golden 2）daffodils and 3）tulips danced in the spring and 4）wallflowers， 5）peonies， roses and clumps of lavender ballooned inside circles of heavily-scented white 6）carnations in summer. Beds of 7）busy Lizzies， also called 8）petunias， bugled in the wind.

Together we sowed 9）parsnips， cabbage， red beets， 10）cauliflower and potatoes to name just a few vegetables. When he planted the peas， he threw a handful of 11）sweet pea seeds in with them and they grew into tall 12）variegated curtains. 13）Thrushes， robins and 14）wagtails enjoyed their 15）rowdy breakfast in the apple trees， 16）black currant bushes and strawberry beds.

When dad dug his first potatoes in June， he brought a basket of steaming-boiled ones 17）slathered in butter to the neighbor’s house. They’d tell him they were the flouriest 18）spuds they’d ever tasted. Then， he’d extend his two hands.

“Who’ll I leave’em to？” he’d ask and everyone would laugh.

I haven’t grown vegetables since I was a child. However， since I’ve lived in 19）Buffalo， I’ve bought 20）geraniums， busy Lizzies and 21）impatiens in full bloom every 22）Memorial Day weekend and planted an instant garden.

My mother also loved lilacs， red poppies and roses. When I returned from her funeral in Ireland in May 2006， a dear friend had made a heart-shaped garden in the front of my house in her memory. It showcases white and purple lilac trees that bloom every spring and peace roses that bloom until it snows. I planted daffodils and tulips and made an instant garden on the Memorial Day weekend.

One day last July I came home and was delightfully surprised to see a “Buffalo in Bloom”marker poking out of a flower bed. A notice on my door said volunteers had come by and thought my “garden was rocking.” I also received a certificate and a letter from Mayor Brown.

This year I celebrated a significant birthday. Friends gave me plants and a long-wished-for bird bath for my garden. On Memorial Day I planted hot pink busy Lizzies， white impatiens， 23）azaleas， 24）hydrangeas and a purple butterfly plant. 25）Gladiola 26）bulbs grew into tall， 27）sleek， colorful exotic flowers and I received the “Buffalo in Bloom” recognition yet again.

A busy neighbor whose grounds looked like sleeping beauty’s garden went on vacation. When she returned I told her that I was tempted to weed it for her. She said if I’d done that， she’d have thought a miracle happened. When she went away again， I removed the weeds and planted a garden in front of her house. She was welcomed back by a “Buffalo in Bloom” marker in her flower bed as well. She was delighted and said if not for my incentive her garden would still be a sleeping beauty. I also assisted a 92-year-old woman I take care of with her garden. She received a “Buffalo in Bloom” recognition， too.

Many people stop to admire our cheerful gifts of color to the neighborhood. When I’m planting， weeding or watering， I often remember my father holding out his hands asking，

“Who’ll I leave ’em to？” I always knew he’d leave ’em to me.

第二次世界大战期间，我在爱尔兰一个士兵村舍里长大。我的养父因曾参加过“一战”而分得了一英亩地，村舍就建在这片土地上。父亲体格健壮又高大，比我年长五十岁。因为在贝格努尔斯镇火车站的商品销售部当工头，并且培育着村舍中最漂亮的花园，他的双手粗糙茧裂。他最钟爱的是那棵丁香花树――其香氛能透过打开的窗户飘进客厅。春天里，大量的黄金水仙花和郁金香翩翩起舞；夏日里，桂竹香、牡丹、玫瑰和成簇的薰衣草在一团团芳香浓郁的白色康乃馨之中怒放。一片片的凤仙花（又叫矮牵牛花）迎风吹响号角。

我们一起播下种子，其中有欧洲萝卜、卷心菜、红甜菜、花椰菜和土豆等蔬菜，不一而举。在种豌豆时，他往里面多撒了一把香豌豆的种子，结果它们长出了一片色彩斑驳的叶幕。画眉、知更鸟和在苹果树、黑加仑子树丛和草莓地上享用着它们喧哗吵闹的早餐。

六月，当父亲从地里挖出第一次收成的土豆后，便会提着一篮子涂着厚厚黄油的蒸土豆送到邻居家里。他们会告诉父亲，这是他们吃过的、最粉的土豆。然后他会摊出双手――

“我可以把它们托付给谁呢？”他会这么问道，大家听后都笑了。

从孩提时到现在，我没有再种过蔬菜。不过，自从搬到布法罗住之后，在每一个阵亡将士纪念日的周末，我都会买回盛开的天竺葵、矮牵牛花和凤仙花，“种”出一个即时花园。

我的母亲也喜欢丁香花、红罂粟和玫瑰。2006年5月，当我从爱尔兰参加完她的葬礼回来后，一位亲密好友在我家的前院开垦了一个心形的花园来悼念她。花园种了每年春天会盛开的白、紫两色丁香花，以及花期持续到雪天的和平玫瑰。我种下了水仙花和郁金香，在阵亡将士纪念日的周末，创造出一个速成花园。

去年七月的一天，我在回家时又惊又喜地发现一个“盛开的布法罗”标志从其中一片花床中探出头来。贴在我家门上的一张通知说，志愿者们经过这里，认为我的花园“太赞了”。我还收到了发自布朗市长的证书和信函。

今年，我庆祝了一个特别重要的生日。朋友们送给我植物和一个我渴求已久的用来装饰花园的鸟浴盆。阵亡将士纪念日那天，我种了艳粉色的矮牵牛花、白色凤仙花、杜鹃花、绣球花和紫色的蝴蝶兰。剑兰从球茎长成瘦长、圆滑、色彩丰富又富有异国情调的花，而我再次获得了“盛开的布法罗”荣誉。

一个忙碌的邻居外出度假了，她拥有一个像睡美人的花园般的院子。当她归来后，我告诉她我真想帮她除除草。她回答说，如果我真的那么做了，她会以为奇迹发生了。当她再次外出时，我除掉了院子里的杂草，在她家的门前造出一片花园。她归来时，迎接她的也是花丛中竖起的一个“盛开的布法罗”标志。她很高兴，称要不是我的好意，她的花园至今仍是一个“睡美人”。我也帮助了一位由我照顾的92岁老妇人打理花园。她也获得了“盛开的布法罗”荣誉。

许多人停下来欣赏我们带给社区的活泼彩礼。在我种花、除草或者浇水的时候，我常常想起我的父亲摊出双手，问道：

“我能把它们托付给谁呢？”我知道，他总能把它们托付于我。