I was thinking, as I wrote this article about memories. When I saw those Mayapples in Iowa in the spring, I could just hear Aunt Bett telling that story. You know how sometimes you can get a memory of a voice you haven't heard in years? Well, it was like that. Her words come rolling back. Same with my Granny Ninna's. So I guess those were lessons well learned. They both had ways of phrasing things that piqued my interest, sort of rhythmic, like poetry. I wish I could capture their sound in writing.
Brenda, thank you. I wish for you the beauty of seeing a Mayapple in spring. You would love it.
Vic, I just knew you'd know about the plant. I am sure they are abundant in Ohio, and hoped they grew also down your way. It's the deep woods that they love, the edges of them where the sun peeps in.
Christine, have I told you I love your name? Wildflowers. My favorites, and a topic I know more legend and lore about than any other. And thanks for sharing your pictures of Mayapples with me. I got so busy I failed to add them to the article but it would be so nice if you shared them here. They were great pictures and should be shared. Thank you.
Dahlia, I think Shoe answered your 'growing on mounds' question, though I like Aunt Bett's version better. Of course she told me the story to keep me out of them, and I believed her. I think she probably believed those stories, too, she'd heard them all during her own childhood.
Shoe, it's always so good to hear from you. Someday we should just sit down and match stories about all the plants that have become part of our lives. You and Aunt Bett would have been fast friends.
And the book, well it's sitting in disarray in a cabinet just to the right of my computer desk. It has been riddled with poor timing and other mundane issues for the past year but I think now the issues are over and the book will again take front seat. Thanks for asking.
And thank you all for reading the article.
