Floral Findings - FMTSO

Field of Wild Verbena near our home

I remember as a child watching my mother plant seeds she had ordered from a catalog... the thought of seeing a green flower filled me with hope and wonder. My brother Brad, our mom and I waited for those first little buds to open and to our surprise, yes they were green. Those little green Zinnias sparked something in me and from that moment I was hooked on flowers.

My love for flowers and plants grew as I was just getting ready to leave high school; finding myself needing a class and seeing nothing I wanted to really take I followed the advice of my younger brother and signed up for a class in agriculture. Under the guidance of Mr. Christmas and Mr. Myers I learned about many things, cattle, various types of seeds, insects and soil judging to name a few. That same year our dad built my brother and I a small greenhouse and we grew seedlings to sell to the public.

My father also Roses throughout his life and I never see a yellow rose that I don't think of him... as a farewell tribute we covered his casket with a spray of the most beautiful yellow roses I've ever seen; years later our florist said that it took her 3 calls to find enough to fill the order but she loved our dad so much she wouldn't give up. I have a piece of an old climber that he moved 4 times to where it now sits at the side of our house and I treasure its scent and the memories it evokes when I see and smell it.

Our yard is blessed with flowers from various family members, some of them long gone such as my parents and my grandparents. Crinum lilies that were moved 30 years ago from Florida, Wild Violets and Four o clocks, Iris and day lilies. Then there are those that the birds gave us such as the beautiful Pear tree and a Magnolia in the front yard.

I carry not only my camera, field guide and seed collecting kit in my car when I travel, but a small bucket and shovel as well because you just never know what you can collect on the side of the road. I have saved Jonquils, Lilies, Butterfly-weed and more from a cruel death by a piece of road equipment and given them a new home in my yard.

And although my yard seems full and overcrowded at times (think Cottage Gone Wild) I always seem to find room for more...

Our one and only Azalea

Apple Tree Blossom

We planted this the Spring my mother died... I remember her singing that old song...

Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree...

Queen Anne's Lace

Bought from the local Garden Club

One of MANY of the Violets that bloom in our yard each Spring

An Apple Shrub/Sweet Shrub I found blooming in the South Carolina Mountains

A native Azalea I found in Fair Play SC at Carolina Landing

Althea in her flowered Easter dress holding one of my Daisies she just picked

Dorie holding one of the largest Dogwood blossoms I've ever seen, we found this specimen

at Issaqueena Falls near Walhalla, SC

Change is Good

I keep telling myself this as I order new carpet and shudder at the price; clean out my cupboards and streamline my baking/cooking collection of pans, pots, etc; and redesign my blog... which has been the hardest, lol.

I have now spent 45 minutes changing background, templates, colors, etc and well I hope you like it. I believe it reflects what I am attempting to find - a simpler, calmer me.

Momma

Taken by Daddy way back when... Brad, Momma & Me 1966

I adored my mom growing up, she was a wonderful mother and although we fought quite a bit when I became a teenager I am thankful that we became friends later in life.

Mom, in the "early years" was June Cleaver times 10! Not only did she help with Brownies and Cub Scouts but she was the President of our PTA. She did all this while going back to college at the old age of 40 and graduated at 42. Oh I forgot she was already a grandma by this time too.

Long before Craig was born she was Granny Jean to the neighborhood kids who always seemed to be at our house which was always open. She made cookies, decorated Easter Trees and Christmas Trees with candy and homemade goodies so the kids could grab something when they came by.

Even as we became teenagers she kept traditions going and added new ones... several years she took groups of us girls and the boys (Brad and Steve) camping at Fore Lake during Spring Break. I cannot imagine doing so but she loved it and we all loved her.

As I grew older and married she adopted Frank and I thought at times she loved him more than she did me :) She was a proud and loving Granny to my three children and we still talk about Granny 13 years after her death, sometimes with pain and tears and others laughing at her many antics through the years.

She was an avid reader, loved Days of Our Lives and had the wander lust of travel which she passed down to me! Not only did she travel to Europe several times, she also took numerous cruises and trips across America has Brad, Frank and I were often lonely and sent for her to come visit us as we were away from home working. She also loved flowers and was either ordering from some catalog or trading with friends; my yard is filled with her many prizes and Spring always brings me joy as the plants she loved so much remind me that she is always with us.

As I look at my daughters Beth and Becki, both who are young mothers I can see my mom in them and their girls... time goes on and now I'm the Granny!