A Mother’s Day Legacy

Each day of the year, I am thankful  of the profound influence and inspiration my Mother brought into my life over the course of the fifty or so years that I was blessed by her earthly presence.  And, many of you are aware of the fact that my blog was actually started in my Mother’s memory.  A poem entitled Beautiful Gardener was given to her years ago by a friend, and was shared at her funeral in 2010.  As a child, I always loved the fact that we got to give Mother presents on her May 5th birthday, and then just a few days following we celebrated Mother’s Day with her.  I can remember as a small child Mother picking up her corsage for Mother’s Day from the local florist:  white roses were traditional if your Mother were still living and red roses if you Mother was deceased.  Mother would often pin a small rose bud from a pink old fashioned rose bush that grew in our yard to my dress as well as to my two sisters’ dresses.  Clearly, roses were a huge influence in my life even in early childhood although Mother would not start cultivating her beloved rose garden until years later.  I will have to admit that I am not a Rosarian.  Most of my experience has been with landscape roses such as Knockouts and Peggy Martin.

When I walked into my backyard on Tuesday, which would have been Mother’s 85th birthday, this rose bush was in full bloom.  I cannot take credit for the blooms as it was planted by the previous home owner.  I quickly picked each gorgeous bloom and have enjoyed them all week on my dining table.

My Mother collected crystal pieces through the years and in recent years, and some of her most cherished pieces were won at the Northeast Mississippi Rose Society’s annual shows.  These elegant rose bowls are from her collection.

Even after her death, the enduring legacy of my Mother’s garden gifts continue. Roses from Mother’s garden were used in my in my niece Alyson McGee Gembala’s bouquet at her wedding in May, 2013.

Mother truly loved peonies and each May I looked forward to the blooms in her garden. She brought these to Dothan on a visit about 10 years ago.

These two blooms were photographed in May, 2014, and now my sister, Claire, can enjoy them.

Last Sunday Wilma Sartin incorporated a few of Mother’s peonies into the flower arrangement for worship services at First United Methodist Church in Pontotoc, Mississippi.

Tracy Kramer, family friend and Rosarian, has even successfully planted some of Mother’s roses into her own garden.  Again, her rose legacy is carried on!

Let Freedom Ring!

Gold Medal

Celebrating the many gifts of my Mother’s life.  Happy Mother’s Day!