* * * My Words, My World, My Way * * *

Please Write: ALewisPDX@gmail.com

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Springtime Favorites

Some days I think I'm an old soul.  I just took the "Old Soul Test" and scored 85%.  I love the past.  I enjoy history.  I like the in's and out's of families.  I like how things came to be.   I enjoy people's stories and ventures.  I like considering life, the world, the sky, trees, breezes, animals and how it all fits together.  Or doesn't.  For example, I see flowers and am quickly reminded of my past.  Where a particular type of flower grew, or whose garden it was in, or the smell of it, or the time of year that it bloomed.  I think of porches with pillars.  Or lemonade.  Or the heavy scent of fresh grass after a cool night.  It is at this time of year, May, when I have a long list of favorites.  Memorial Day was always a time to gather flowers from our yard, put them in a dinged-up old galvanized bucket and take them from grave to grave at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.  These are my Top 4 Most Favorite flowers.  I do have many others but these are my most favorite:

DOGWOOD -- We did not have these in Boise growing up but I do have them in Portland now.  They are in full bloom right now in all shades of pinks, reds, whites, creams....amazing.  I love how their trunks are so dark black and the blooms stand out nicely against the trunks. 

IRIS -- For some reason, we sometimes called these "Flags" -- I think because Memorial Day stood also for flags on the many graves at the cemetery.  These have such a gentle, sweet scent to them.  And they are so pretty and unusual. 
LILAC -- Oh boy, these always grab my attention...over and over.  The giant variety of colors.  From whites to pinks and differing shades of purple.  And so so so so sweet.  The giant bushes of lilacs remind me of grandma for some reason. 
PEONY -- Delicate and complicated.  Like me.  So heavy are the buds that they fall over sometimes from their long stems.  There's nothing like a vaseful of Peonies. 

11 comments:

Ur-spo said...

perhaps 'old soul' really means 'wise soul"? 'cause that is you!

BosGuy said...

I picked up peonies at the store last night as a centerpiece for my kitchen table this week. I love them as well.

bardelf said...

I agree with so much of your posting, and your words describe me also. I, too, love dogwoods and irises (in abundance in NC), as well as lilacs (which will barely live in NC). I'd add to the list magnolias and gardenias, and in the summer months crape myrtles.

Greg said...

Yes, you are indeed a delicate flower.

anne marie in philly said...

I love all these flowers. unfortunately, I can never bring lilac and peonies into my home due to my severe allergies. so I admire them in my backyard, where the scent doesn't bother my nose.

and I second dr. spo's assessment!

Alan Bennett Ilagan said...

Excellent picks - and I agree with all of them. My garden has got a few of each, and they're coming into their prime in the next few weeks. Your soul may be old, but it's still damn good.

Cubby said...

I do believe lilacs have the best scent of any flower on earth :-)

-carywd said...

- my three favorites as well, my bearded iris are just about to pop

Ron said...

Good choices all, especially the peonies. Such a sweet scent that brings back pleasant memories of my past. Thank you for the reminder.

Rick said...

Oh you and Martha with those peonies.
Ah these were all in abundance in the Ozarks as a child. Unfortunately here in southeast TX they are not.

Unknown said...

Beautiful flowers my friend! I love unusual flowers... and I want to say thank you for so often being the most enriching stop for me on the interwebs. <3