Page 50 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2017- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Lubbock’s

Flower

Girl

HELEN JARMAN

by Olivia Thomas

Her neon pink bonnet is easy to spot,
even among the beds of roses and Even her departure from the
daffodils. Soft, cloud-white hair puffs workforce didn’t slow her down.
from beneath it, as Helen Jarman Shortly after she retired, she was
reminisces fondly about her favorite asked to join the Arboretum’s Board,
spots and memories. “We’ve got where she served from 1991 to 2015.
Maximillian sunflowers over there by With a laugh, Jarman admits that she
the fence,” she says, pointing. “Over only retired from the board when
there is our rose garden.” The roses she could no longer hear what was
have been there nearly as long as happening in the meetings. However,
she has. The hard-working gardener even now, at 91, she never misses a
points out the tears in her faded blue Wednesday Work Day.
coat, a few with thorns still poking
out. She calls it her “rose-pruning Mrs. Williams. Her labor of love has The Arboretum is more than just a
coat.” continued for almost five decades. beautiful place to Lubbock’s senior
flower whisperer. It is full of places
Jarman has been volunteering at In 1980, Helen became the first woman that remind her of her own daughters
the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum hired by the Lubbock Parks. growing up, as well as friends she has
since 1970, just six years after Mrs. Department in park maintenance. made over the years. She points across
Nat Williams and others founded it Her job, in the beginning, was mostly the field to the flowerbed dedicated to
in 1964. She had joined the Gladiola as a liaison to the Arboretum. She her husband and waves at the group
Society at the Garden and Arts coordinated many of the plantings, of Texas Tech students who are just
Center and had become friends with working not only from 8:00 finishing up at the compost heaps.
to 5:00, but also volunteering
in her free time. “That tree was planted by the
4111 University Avenue, Lubbock, TX Junior Buds in 1962, a year after
the Arboretum’s groundbreaking,”
Eventually, Jarman gained
more responsibility, and by Jarman reports. Working with the
the time she retired in 1991, Junior Buds was always one of her
A heartfelt “Thank You” to the she had worked in every favorite ways to volunteer. Though
WEDNESDAY WONDERS they are no longer partners with
who faithfully and tirelessly volunteer park in Lubbock. “If it had a the Arboretum, the work they have
to maintain the garden and grounds of the flower bed, I’d been there,”
Lubbock Memorial Arboretum for the enjoyment of all. she comments, as she points done over the years is invaluable.
out a patch of daffodils she “When you think about the millions
The Arboretum is open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset. had helped plant several of hours that have been given by so
There is no admission fee. many people, and all the money that
years ago.

50 Lubbock Senior Link