Carol - Updates

Hopefully HQ will be able to organise a simple way of people donating.x x x

A living memorial - lovely.

I'm happy to go along with anything that is decided. To have a clutch of trees would be a lovely memorial for Carol.

I think it will be lovely to do something in memory of Greatnan. A bench sounds wonderful, although it would also be appropriate if any money collected could go to the family. The costs must have been huge.

As the costs to the family were so great could the fund not also repay some of these costs to them? I certainly would find that use very acceptable as well as the lovely idea of the trees and bench.

think that is a lovely idea.

I am sure others from the other Forums Carol contributed to would also like to join. A small group of trees and a great bench would just what she would have wanted, and I am sure, her daughter and family too. Will discuss with her next week- as she needs to rest now. If Gransnet can find a way to facilitate payments to the fund, that would be great (bearing in mind many of us live abroad, in France and Switzerland).

A small wood would be even better. I also know F intends to put a bench up there, in memory of Carol. So it would be wonderful if we could cover the cost. The expenses for F and 2 grandsons from UK were huge, and can't be recovered from succession.

flowering cherries in NZ

the two main NZ species that I can think of, that are flowering natives are:

www.anntonnursery.co.nz/Sophora-Microphylla.html

and

www.123rf.com/photo_18687663_flowers-on-a-pohutukawa-tree-metrosideros-excelsa--flowering-on-the-west-coast-new-zealand.html

I think both of these would be coming into bloom about now, as it is spring.
The yellow one is small tree and the pohutukawa grows into a magnificent big evergreen.

My thoughts too Galen
One climate suitable tree really shouldn't cost that much. There are a whole lot of good varieties coming in at about £40 in uk prices.

If they have suitable species in NZ I would not think they would be relatively much more expensive.

www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/ornamental-trees-c18/flowering-cherry-trees-prunus-trees-c34

There's a faction in New Zealand that objects to non-indigenous trees. A sort of arboreal nationalism. Perhaps there is an indigenous tree that would be appropriate. When Fiona has been back home a few weeks, we could ask her.

I suspect that donations might equip a small park.

Granjura we would need to check that a flowering cherry is a good option in that part of NZ as the climate is a bit different to the UK. Lots of different microclimates depending on exact location. Something that flourishes in the town park in Nelson could curl up it toes a half a mile up the hill in the wind on poor soil. Maybe family could take some advice and have input - a tree that suits their location and does not need too much TLC to settle it in.

Yes please. I'm rubbish at paypal stuff but could send a cheque to someone who can.

Can Gransnet admin please suggest a way to facilitate this, please?

That sounds good. It will last longer than cut flowers.

Lovely idea, granjura.

That would be lovely.

I'm up for that, let us know how to contribute.

She loved flowering cherries- so perhaps a more fitting tribute would be to pay for the cost of planting a really nice one.

Could we somehow arrange for a bunch of flowers to be put on her final resting place, with a card saying 'from your friends at gransnet'? Nothing expensive or elaborate [I've even put a single rose on a grave just to show I cared and remembered].

A fitting place for Greatnan and no mistake.. near her beloved family keeping watch over them.

Perfect resting place overlooking the family home, thank you for letting us know granjura

Thank you for telling us that, granjura.