Lois Hole

We will miss you Mrs. Hole.

What? What did I miss?

When did she pass away echoes? I've been busy in the kitchen and haven't heard anything.

Sadly I tell you, she died today.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050107.whole0107/BNStory/National/

http://www.holesonline.com/loishole.asp



This message was edited Jan 7, 2005 10:53 PM

Oh no....that's soooo sad. I got to Holes Nursey in Edmonton in May, but I didn't get a chance to meet her. I guess losing her husband and Mom last year was to much for her.
:( Donna

Very sad......both she and you echoes have tempted me with many plants.

Well it would take the fight out of one.

Lovely article about her. I imagine it only touches the surface of who the woman really was. She sounds amazing, talented, strong yet had humble roots.

Love her books. Mine are very well worn. They were some of the first reference books I bought. Carried them with me shopping for plants. Can't remember how I first got to 'know' her. She has another book that I borrowed from the library. "Never Marry a Farmer" or something close. Really enjoyed that one. Pam, just to be mentioned in the same sentence as her is an honour.

That is too sad. She was much loved in Aberta, besides being a gardening guru, she was remembered as an advocate for women's issues, business and the arts, and served on the boards of several community organizations.

I remember her respectfully having worked many years in school libraries because she was a big supporter of libraries and literacy. She made such a big contribution to the community and will be sadly missed. I will covet the copies I have of her gardening books.

OMG, I didn't know that. Everytime I was in Edmonton visiting my daughter she used to take me to Hole's Greenhouse. What a place. Especially at Christmas with all the decorations. She was a lovely lady & surely will be missed.

She represented the province well as the Lieutenant-Governor, but I had a bad feeling when she was diagnosed with abdominal cancer in 2003. Very unfortunate, she had many more years of valuable contribution.

Yes. Never Marry a Farmer. Her first book. And she did marry a farmer. She will be greatly missed. She used to poke around the university in the early am (so I'm told), making sure all was well and nobody was unhappy. Also making sure that dead-heading was done properly.

Inanda

I was very sad to hear of Lois Hole's passing. You could feel her warmth and kindness just from reading her books. She will be very sadly missed.

Rhonda

Here's a link to the CBC obit.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/obit/hole/

Actually she died the evening of the 6th echoes. The family called on Thursday nite to say she had passed. She had been in palliative care for almost two months completely convinced she would beat it.

I knew Lois for over 20 years and never saw her without feeling a lift and leaving her company smiling. She did that for everyone she met. She has been a wonderful ambassador for this province and city and a true champion for those who have not experienced the 'Alberta advantage'. There is some talk about trying to make library priveleges free for everyone in her name and once the initial sorrow passes we will have to get on with something like that to commemorate this extraordinary and inspiring woman.

Yes, I think the first article I read said 'today' and I think it was the paper for the 7th. I notice the one on the Hole's website said 6th. No matter she's gone and that's too bad.

I'm ashamed to say, I had not heard of her before. It doesn't speak well of my education, does it. The articles paint a lovely picture of her contribution to her fellow Canadians, both professionally and on a personal level. Maybe more politicians should be gardeners first... or just good people like her.

I met her once at Gov't house during the Lieutenant-Governor's New Year's Levée. There were so many people lined up through the house and outside...I think I waited in line for an hour & 1/2, and this was on a cold New Year's Day. When I finally got to the front of the line to meet her, one of her equerries handed her the little card with my name on it, and she said "Shannon" and clasped my hands so warmly and genuinely you'd never know she'd been greeting people for hours. Such a wonderful, warm lady. I find the text of her gardening books wonderfully enjoyable to read...she has such a delightful and practical attitude. I'm so glad her family is running the greenhouse, so her legacy will continue.

Weez, here are a few of her books on the Garden Bookworm, just in case you'd like an introduction! :-)

http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/623/

http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/175/

http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/1574/

http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/625/

http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/622/

They're all excellent. She is much-loved and will be sorely missed.

Shannon

Great post, Shannon!

Thanks so much for the links... why haven't I seen these books before! I may order one or two. The cool weather gardening book is of special interest to me. It seems I'm always meeting the best people after they are gone. And what a nice story about meeting her.

I feel badly that I didn't know anything about her too. Last Monday I came home from the library with a bunch of gardening books that I thought would be helpful. My dad said I had picked books by some of the best authors on gardening that there are. One of the books was 'Lois Hole's favorite Bulbs'.

In fact Weez, here's a newer version of that same book. It doesn't have the cool-climate subtitle, but all of her books are written for at least Zone 3a, and colder in some cases, so should be appropriate for your location. Apparently they're all Canadian best-sellers too.

http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/624/

Thanks, Shannon. I think I'll order it. I'm always looking for information that suits this weird climate of mine!