My Great Grandfather Bill Clark was an avid gardener, as was his wife Myrtle who took this photo in July, 1969.

My great grandparents’ garden was different every year. That’s the thing I remember most and recognize in the images of the garden that great grandad shot on Kodachrome (1960-1976). Always tidy, always weeded.

Some years it was dominated by bean houses and some years by massive swaths of spring color.
They planned it out and worked on it together as my wife and I do.

Gardening was just something they always did and always enjoyed and looked forward to doing together all summer.

Since they have both passed, the soil in that small backyard has been barren from any vegetable or flower gardens, and that speaks to my great grandparents’ work ethic as much as anything.

I miss them both but think of them often when my hands are busy in the garden. ~shared by @iamfarmerjohn

We’re celebrating Patriarchs all week. Here’s how you can participate:

1. Share a photo of a “Patriarch” in your life on Instagram or Facebook.
2. Add both hashtags savefamilyphotos + instantlyframed
3. Follow @SaveFamilyPhotos and @InstantlyFramed on Instagram and LIKE us on Facebook so we can see your photos!
4. The winner will get their photo Instantly Framed!