Memory Flowers

April 5th, 2011

   Healing and flowers go together.

   It’s no coincidence that folks take bouquets to the hospital or send cut flowers to friends and family recovering from surgery.

Laura Lee Lukunich and her mom, Sandy Reece. Photo by Laura Mathews.

   Laura Lee Lukunich of Hampden Twp. is using flowers for yet another healing purpose – to remember loved ones lost to cancer.

   Lukunich is the Energizer Bunny behind the Passion for Mother’s Flower Memorial Garden along the Conodoguinet Creek in Hampden Twp.’s Youth Park.

   If you’re not familiar with it, it’s been there for less than a year and isn’t quite yet fully finished.

   But coming up Sat., May 7, Lukunich and crew are staging the second annual Passion for Mother’s Flowers memorial ceremony in which family and friends can plant flowers in the garden in memory of cancer-stricken loved ones.

   The ceremony starts at 9 a.m., and besides the flower-planting, it includes music, a prayer and the reading of a poem and the names of everyone being remembered. New this year is a memorial release of birds.

   Flowers are $5 each and can be bought on site. The birds are free if reservations are made by April 22 to Lukunich (laura@lauraleelukunich.com or 761-3380).

   Lukunich founded the organization and garden two years ago when her mother, Sandy Reece of Mechanicsburg, was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

   Reece, who’s recovered from the bout, is an avid gardener. One of her biggest worries while hospitalized for 2 weeks was what would happen to her flower beds.

   Lukunich solved that problem by getting out there in the dirt. But it got her to thinking about others who didn’t have a daughter who actually enjoyed weeding.

   That prompted her to offer a garden-care service for those undergoing cancer treatment. For $10 an hour, Lukunich and volunteer helpers will weed, water and care for gardens so the regular gardener can focus on healing.

   Ten percent of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society with the rest going toward the Memorial Garden. For now, the service is open only to residents of the Camp Hill/Mechanicsburg area.

   The Passion for Mother’s Flowers garden was the second phase of the operation.

   Planted on township-owned land next to the creek, the garden features a centerpiece sculpture, roses, assorted shrubs, vines on trellises and seating, plus a secondary flower garden that faces the creek.

   There’s no charge to see it, and it’s open to the public during daylight hours by entering the Youth Park off of Orr’s Bridge Road.

   Ruell Landscape donated the planting, Lemoyne artist David Hutton donated the metal, floral-themed centerpiece sculpture, and I donated the garden design.

   “Toward summer’s end, the garden was breath-taking,” says Lukunich. “Many visitors were in awe to discover the garden while passing by. So with the addition of nearly all of the remaining features, it will indeed become the sanctuary it was meant to be.”

   The creek-side park is a popular path for walkers, joggers and bikers.

   If you’d like to sponsor any of the remaining permanent plants or garden features or if you’re interested in taking part in the May 7 ceremony, more information is available at www.passionformothersflowers.com, by emailing or calling the above contact information for Lukunich.