Month: March 2025

17210 Hull Street: Rose’s Story (3)

It’s time to talk about my complicated, resilient, frustrating, singular great-grandmother Rose.

1. The Pheasant

This time, the path to my great-grandmother’s long-gone garden in Detroit starts at mine in Chicago.

We are blessed to have a city home with a large backyard, and a neighbor who keeps it filled with plants and flowers. We also have a kitchen door with four little windows, perfect for enjoying the whole view of the yard and the alleyscape beyond.

One day last year I was at the door, when I saw a brown rabbit in the garden bed. This happens a lot in the city. We two were having a quiet moment—me the hidden watcher, while this unaware bunny hopped between the dahlia stalks.

And then I thought: I bet the pheasant happened like this.

Continue reading “17210 Hull Street: Rose’s Story (3)”