Sheila and I put flowers in the church on Sunday in memory of my Mother, Ruth Baird Shaw, on her 100th birthday. I'd like to save the pictures here.
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| I also cut a bunch of daffodils from my yard for a small bouquet which was placed in the narthex of the church. The primary reason I have planted so many daffodils in my yard was to have a good supply to cut for my Mother during the late winter and spring. How I miss seeing her face brighten when I walk in with jonquils. |
February 1
Somehow
it is uplifting to know
that somewhere
hereabouts today
I can count on
a precocious daffodil
raising its golden trumpet
in solo fanfare.
Rousing its fellows,
defying any frost
or snow
or ice
encrusting its petals,
it shouts:
"Persevere;
press on;
Spring will come!"
by Terrell Shaw
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| Mother and me and the daffodils, her last spring, 2021. I miss bringing jonquils to my Mother. |
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| Sheila and I enjoyed an evening in downtown Rome with our friends Lynelle and Stan Stewart. First we had a nice meal at Ana's by the River. It was our first time there. We knew we were off to a good evening when we found the only unoccupied parking spot on this busy street on a Saturday was directly in front of Ana's! I enjoyed a very large serving of lasagna with garlic bread that was really good. (I'll be better tomorrow.) Everyone else seemed to like their meals as well. It was fun getting to know Lynelle and Stan a little better. Lynelle and I talked a lot about our time in Ellijay. She lived right on River Street -- on the Toggery side. Her family's dry goods store was on the opposite side closer to the Toggery. Although she is younger than me we had some of the same teachers at Ellijay Elementary. She and Stan had never been to the Desoto Theater before. Sean Detrick's one man show was a hoot. Lots of music and stories. Music is about as close to magic as anything I know. It can unify a diverse group so quickly. It can rekindle memories from many decades ago instantly. During one part of the program Sean invited us to join him in singing several songs I haven't heard since Vacation Bible School days , like... I may never march in the infantry Ride in the cavalry Shoot the artillery I may never fly o'er the enemy But I'm in the Lord's army! Yes Sir! I'm in the Lord's army! Yes sir! I'm in the Lord's army! Yes sir! |
First jonquil of 2022 at our place, January 24.
Ruth Shaw loves jonquils. I love Ruth Shaw; she is my Mother. So ever since I was a little boy I have enjoyed bringing her flowers, especially jonquils -- or daffodils. There's a picture of five year-old Terrell (Terry more commonly back then) with a milk carton full of dandlions and other yard blooms gathered for Mother. If I find that picture I'll add it to this post; no luck so far.
I planted lots of bulbs this year both at her house and mine to supplement those planted in previous years and have been hoping to have some blooms to cut for her by her 98th birthday on February 19.
I remember my Daddy planting bulbs at their home on Charles Drive in East Point in the mid eighties. After Daddy died in 1986 I was reminded of his loving efforts each succeeding spring when those tulips would bloom for Mother.
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| The tulips and daffodils Daddy planted at Charles Drive. |
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| The tulips and daffodils Daddy planted at Charles Drive. |
Way back in the seventies I'd look out for early daffodils. Our dietician at McHenry Elementary was Mrs. Clara Packer, a wonderful woman who could do wonders with the government commodities that landed in the larders of school cafeterias. Her cinnamon rolls made with surplus flour and sugar and real butter were to die for. Her home was a small craftsman cottage directly across McHenry Drive from the school. She had a lots of daffodils out front and some of them were always early bloomers. I learned I could usually find a bright yellow jonquil blooming there on the first day of February. If hers were a little late, I discovered I could take a drive down the Rockmart Road to Judge Harry Johnson's place. Judge Johnson and his wife had a nice ranch-style house out there with banks of daffodils. It became a tradition with me -- almost a superstition -- that I needed to go out on the first day of February each year to find that cheerful declaration that winter is on its way out.
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| Presenting Mother a vase of daffodils from my yard in March 0f 2020 |
In recent years as I have added bulbs to our yard we have been able to reliably find those early blooms right here in our own yard. Perhaps it is global warming that has seemed to bring forth those yellow blooms earlier and earlier.
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| Our first jonquils of 2020 on January 12! |
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| Our front yard February 2020 |
There have been very few first days of February when I have failed at that mission; February 1, 2021 was one, however. Matter of fact I had to wait till today: February 8!
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| Our first daffodil of 2021 is till not quite fully filled out today February 8. |
Here are some previous posts about these harbingers of spring:
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| Another recent addition to the yard. David Matheny Reminds me of Jesus's encouragement to us not to worry ...the daffodils of the field don't. Tersi Bendiburg Lovely jonquils, memories, and poem! |
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| These tall but small yellow blooms were here when we bought the place. I probably should dig 'em and separate 'em --- I've never fooled with'em since 1993. |
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| I've really enjoyed these. I planted them maybe twenty years ago or more. They are beginning to fade (mid-March). |
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| Landscape designer (and my former student) Thomas Humphrey planted several of these camellias a decade or two ago. Thomas Humphrey Hey Terrell Shaw! Glad to see the picture. And I still remember your reading of The Jabberwocky in class! Hope you are doing well! Terrell Shaw And I still have the wooden horse cut-out you gave me when you were a kid decorating my yard on the side of my shed. |
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| These are my 2019 planting --- big yellow trumpets. |
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| When I planted these tulips long ago they filled in between some Encore Azaleas, but those did not last. |
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| More of the Fall 2019 planting. |
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| I love these large mostly white blooms... a years-ago planting. |
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| There are many varieties of daffodils. I think I planted these only last year. |
YOUTUBE.COM
"The Calla Lilies are in Bloom Again"
"The Calla Lilies are in Bloom Again"
Ruth Baird Shaw
My wonderful son, Terry brought a vase of jonquils, daffodils, and hyacinths over to me Sunday afternoon!
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| Jonquils in bloom in January and the middle of the woods on Berry property near Armuchee Elementary. This is probably an old homesite. Lots of signs of human junk but nothing left of a building. |
In honor of my mother's birthday today I publish my annual jonquil photos. Mama loves these harbingers of Spring, as do I.
George Barton How old is Ruth?, she has to be close to 90.
Ruth Baird Shaw
George you are right. I was born in 1923 so if i live two more years will celebrate 90. So let me pass along a bit of wisdom. <smile> One of the interesting things about growing old is realizing that we do not loose all the other ages we have been! although I am now 88, i still know what it is like to be 18 and 28 and 38 etc. God is good...All the time!
Terrell Shaw
What are you gonna believe, George, the calendar, or your eyes? My mother is no where near ninety.
George Barton
Well, I know about how old you are, Charlie and Ruth had three babies before they had you, and I don't think Joan was born when your mom was 15 years old. She does look good, you would never guess her age unless you did the arithmatic.
Walter Jack Gipson
Good shots Terry.
Terrell Shaw
I don't know much about that, David. I remember Mrs. Harry Johnson made an effort to know many varieties. She planted a yard full out on Rockmart Road.
Terrell Shaw A jonquil finally burst forth this afternoon. Not in the bunch pictured but one near our front porch, so - ta-dah! -- today I rejoice to announce my First Jonquil of 2011!!! Take that, Winter!
Terrell Shaw
I wrote a reply to Wordsworth's famous poem about daffodils a while back:
http://aloneonalimb.blogspot.com/.../poetry-stretch-first...
Logan Boss Mothers and jonquils. When one is gone, the other persists, dependable, anticipated harbinger of Spring, awakening beautiful memories regrettably buried sometimes under Winter's decaying leaves. Enjoyed your response to Wordsworth's paean to daffodils and reflection, Terrell. Give your mom a big hug for me.
Susan Cherones
OOOH I wish you'd come shoot me a daffodil album-they lool great! My favorite flower!
Nancy Johal Singh
amazing...great pics!
Ruthy Countryman
Wow!
Anita Stewart
Beautiful pics! Daffodils let us know that spring has arrived.
Wanda Mulkey Dagraedt
Do you think the really cold winter made them bigger? Mine are wonderful this year and much fuller than usual. Spring has sprung! Yea.
Just keep in mind that we are less than four weeks from the first jonquils! Think daffodillicly.
Comments
Tersi Bendiburg
Yet, these are quiet, lovely, days for reflection....."To read a poem in January is as lovely as to go for a walk in June." Jean-Paul Satre.
Christie Hufstedler Boyd
Okay! That sounds like a good idea. I'm also thinking of Hometown Headlines post that it will get into the 50's this week! I'm a little tired of this cold weather. Got used to it in New York, but...this...is...NOT...upstate New York!
Chris Goodwin
winter daphne's gonna beat em to the punch
Terrell Shaw
Thanks all. This is for you Tersi:
http://aloneonalimb.blogspot.com/.../poetry-stretch-first...
Ruth Baird Shaw
Terry...Loved reading again some of your poetry...
Susan Cherones
I am excided to think daffodillicly!
For many years now it has been my pleasure to search out a jonquil on February 1. Somehow it is very uplifting to know that somewhere in my hometown I can count on a precocious little daffodil raising its yellow trumpet in a solo fanfare to rouse its fellows, defy the frost or even ice and snow that may yet encrust its petals, and fairly shout, "Persevere, press on, Spring will come!"
This year I had only to walk a few paces to the end of my own drive. And several days early, at that.
It won't be long though.
