Widower's secret tribute to wife, spied from above
A heart-shaped meadow in the English countryside was planted by a farmer in tribute to his late wife.
The Daily Mail reports that after Winston Howes' wife Janet died 17 years ago at age 50, the farmer planted thousands of sapling oaks in a six-acre meadow in order to create a lasting memorial.
He left a heart-shaped area bare, marking the space with a large hedge. The point of the heart faces Janet's childhood home, Wotton Hill. Daffodils planted in the center of the heart push forth in spring.
The meadow is not visible at ground level, and was a family secret - until balloonist Andy Collett accidentally discovered it last week.
A 1994 photo of Winston and Janet Howes.
/ Adam Gray/SWNS.com"I sometimes go down there, just to sit and think about things," Howes told the paper. "It is a lovely and lasting tribute to her which will be here for years."
The two were married for 33 years.
Collett, the balloonist from Wotton-Under-Edge, said he couldn't believe his eyes when spied the symbol of love formed from the trees.
To read more on this story visit the Daily Mail website.
A heart-shaped meadow in the English countryside was planted by a farmer in tribute to his late wife.
/ Adam Gray / SWNS.comPopular on CBSNews.com
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First it makes me choke up a little bit, the whole bitter-sweetness of the heart. That he's maintained all these years.
And then ... it kind of makes you wonder what inspires that kind of devotion - like what was their lives together like? Was it her, or was he a more romantic type guy? He never wanted to remarry?
And then ... WOW, how is it possible nobody noticed it for SEVENTEEN YEARS???
I guess it must be in a remote area, with no airport nearby, and it's not in the path of flights to and from anywhere? How is that possible??? (Can you tell I live in a big city? :) )