Ofallthebenefitsthatcomefromhavingenduredchildhood, 'sgrandmotherwillhavegrownsuch, andsucharose, andthesmellofthatroseatdusk, whenthegardenerwasachildandwalkinginthegrandmother'sfootstepsasshewentaboutherbusinessinhergarden—thememoryofthatsmelloftherosecombinedwiththememoryofthatsmellofthegrandmother'sskirtwillforeverinformandinfluencethelifeofthegardener, (agardener), asentence, athoughtthatgoessomethinglikethis—"YouknowwhenIwassuchandsuchanage, Iwenttothemarketforareasonthatisnolongerofanyparticularinteresttome, butitwasthereIsawforthefirsttimesomethingthatIhaveneverandcanneverforget"—floatsoutintotheclearair, andthepersonfromwhomthesewordsorthisthoughtemanatesisstandinginfrontofyouallbareandtrembly, fulloffeeling, 'srealpalette; memoryasitsummonsupthepast, memoryasitshapesthepresent, memoryasitdictatesthefuture.
IhaveneverbeenabletogrowMeconopsisbenticifoliawithsuccess, butthepictureofitthatIhaveinmymind, apicturemadeupofmemory (Isawitsometimeago), apicturemadeupof "tocome" (thefuture, whichistheoppositeofremembering), 'sgarden, andIshallneverseethisplantagainwithoutthinkingofhimandsayingtomyself, itshallneverlookquitelikethis (thewayIsawitinhisgarden), forinhisgardenitwasitselfandbeyondcomparison, andIwillalwayswantittolookthatway, growingcomfortablyinthemountainsofVermont, sofarawayfromtheplacetowhichitisendemic, sofarawayfromtheplaceinwhichitwasnatural, unnoticed, andsogoingaboutitsownpeculiarwaysofperpetuatingitself.
