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Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Nostalgic tales, the Canada Connection.

Had a look round the garden today, found some weeds, as you do. Also found some special flowers blooming.

My grandparents both emigrated to Canada at the beginning of the last century, and were married at Niagara Falls, and then lived at Simcoe, Canada to start their married life. My grandfather was a furniature maker, and his brother and his family still lives in Canada now. Although I have never had the good fortune to meet them
However when Grandmother became pregnant with her first child, she became very homesick for her family , and they returned to England, Oxford to be precise. They lived in the same house all their married life, then my Aunt continued to live in the same house until recently, so for approx 75 years the same family lived in the house.

The front garden of the house in Oxford was planted with flowers by my grandmother, and my father was given a plant from grandmas garden to put into his garden as did his 3 sisters. This flowering plant had apparently come from Canada, and all the family have a cutting of this plant in their gardens, including my children. Its a strange link to the past.
Why am I telling you this story? I noticed this morning it was flowering in my garden. I do not know what it is called, I do not have "green fingers", so am always pleased to see it again.



The snails have walked over them, but I have let them be.

By strange co-incidence I have also had some flowers delivered, quite unexpectantly, by Interflora. They were sent by my colleagues at the school I have just left. So kind.




I took my camera with me yesterday into the depths of Wiltshire ( as promised)... amazingly I saw another field of poppies, knowing I had my camera with me, I wanted to take a photo for you, but there was nowhere safe to stop the car. Most frustrating. So sorry will have to make do with this boring and bland photo of Wiltshire yesterday.
Brilliant sunshine we had, but today they are forecasting thunderstorms and torrential rain..... hasn't arrived yet!

3 comments:

Margaret said...

Always pleased to help with plant ID. This also grows outside the library I work in in central Virginia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Violet-oxalis01.jpg

Sue Krekorian said...

I was going to suggest it might be a variety of oxalis and it seems I'm correct. I have a red-leaved version on my kitchen window-sill. What a lovely family heirloom.

Susan Lenz said...

Hi!
First and foremost, thank you so much for the lovely comment on my blog. I'm never sure what others will read and what they will skim over. I write from the heart, as I see that you do. When I first started this blog, I thought I could keep it as a place to document my artistic inspirations, creation, and art journey. Quickly, I discovered that I couldn't separate my family life from my work place from my embroidery. Everything is terribly interconnected. It is nice, therefore, to know that some of the folks in the fiber area have enjoyed the posts that are more in the "family/travel" area. Thank you!

Now, about your mystery plant. I have no idea what it is but I've grown up with it. Instantly, it is recognizable as a common bloom in any field or along any path here in the United States. As a child, I used to pick these and try pressing them between all the pages in my father's books. I remember bringing them to my mother. She had a tiny Venetian glass vase that sat in the window sill by the kitchen sink. She'd put these flowers in the vase every day because my sisters and I picked them that often...plus, the flowers wilt almost as soon as they're picked. Good luck in identifying them! They are sweet...whatever they are. They are nostalgic for me too.