Happy Mother’s Day
May 10th, 2009 | Posted in Miscellaneous by Anne Brewer
My mother was an indoor gardener, a lover and collector of houseplants. During high school, my mother gave me my first houseplant, a Crassula ovata, or jade plant, as she must have known I needed a succulent- low maintenance. When I left for college I was growing a Philodendran cordatum, or Heart-leaf Philodendron, so long it was trailing up and along the window molding and around the closet door frame. I, also, had a small collection of African violets and, of course, my jade plant. Even though mom was never tolerant of our southern heat and humidity, she would fondly reminisce about her mother’s Alabama flower garden. Mom’s favorite flower that her mother grew was Convallaria majalis ‘Bordeaux’ or Lily of the Valley. I think it was these coversations with her that gave me the deep connection I have with flowers, gardening, and people.
This morning my salmon colored Pelargonium x hortorum, or geraniums, spoke to me, reminding me of a fun time in my life. For about ten years every March around the second week, my mother-in-law would come to visit. It was her birthday week and she would come to celebrate it with our family. Anna would arrive between three and four o’clock in the afternoon with the back of her stationwagon loaded with huge salmon colored geraniums. Sweet joy! My heart would sing with the rejuvenating new life of spring! Being late winter, my lawn had not “greened-up” yet and my flower garden wasn’t in full swing, so to see those rich salmon, spherical, floral clusters so boldly shooting out from the ruffled edged, deep green, round leaves was sheer exuberance for me! Her annual birthday visit always heralded in spring a week early!
What gardening, flower, or nature connections do you have with your mother? Please share.
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My mother grew Aftican violets but I did not inherit the gene for indoor gardening although, I have grown them over the years. I’m much more of an outdoor garden girl.
It’s interesting to hear you talk about your mom’s lily of the valley flowers. I wouldn’t have thought they could grow in Alabama, It seems like it would be too hot for them.
It’s always interesting to learn what plants will grow in a particular area. I’m thinking specifically of New Orleans is. I think they must have a micro-climate that allows them to grow all those exotic plants we usually see farther south.
As for our area, a neighbor recently told me that the county extension agency recommends that people who live below I-10 shouldn’t grow peaches because they won’t get enough cold days. What a difference a few miles or a lower elevation (?) can make.
My Mother never worked in the yard because she was originally from Rhode Island and could never adjust to the heat. My Father grew the most beautiful roses for her. He spent hours and hours working on the roses. I worked in the lab at a hospital when I was a Senior in high school and would bring the expired blood home for him. You would have thought he had won the lottery!My Mother really enjoyed fresh flowers in the house but one of her favorite things to do was to bring the prettiest bloom to someone else. My Mother was a giver. People talk about the economic downturn but that doesn’t affect a giver.Giving comes from a heart condition not a bank account. I usually think of my Dad when I see roses (my nickname from him was white rose) but I realize all his hard work was to give my Mom joy. They both were givers.I am so grateful for both my parents and I pray the legacy of giving will be passed to me and to my own children and that they have a love of nature -where it seems I am most at home.
Yes, micro climates are amazing when you consider the differences in what can grow in your yard and what doesn’t in someone’s yard across town. One of my favorite garden writers, Elizabeth Lawrence, speaks about this in her book A Southern Garden. My mother use to say that her Alabama hometown would get much colder and for longer periods of time than it does now. I should try to grow Lily of the Valley up there now and see what results I get. Because, yes, Alabama is not that cold anymore. I’ve only seen two snowfalls in the last twenty- five years or so- however, I’m mostly just there on the weekends.
Anne I love the web page!!!! So proud of you and I know you will do great with your new buisness. Love You— *Sister Dear* Please come Fluff my patio!!!!!
A former girlfriend, Lori, had a stepfather who was a monster–polyabusive–but had one nice trait: he grew prize roses. Willis worked as a hospital dietician and knew people in the local blood bank. They gave him expired blood to feed his roses, apparently with good results.
Happy Mother’s Day to all.-.*