So, Jane wants to know what we were like when we were very young.
This is the first known gardening photo of yours truly. Must have been May - you may guess what year. And, those are the small yellow iris that followed us from Grannie's house at Virginia Beach to our first house in Knoxville. [Yes, she preferred for 23 grandchildren to call her "Grannie" - OMG!!]
When she moved back to the Beach in retirement, Mother took some with her and eventually I had a fairly large clump at this house. Sadly, a very rainy winter rotted them all, and no one else in the family had saved any. Nowadays, the breeders are all going for large flowers, so you don't see the small ones around any more. A loss, I think.
You can see, tho, that the gardening bug was caught early. Thanks, Jane, for a good memory.
Now hop on over to Small, but Charming and see who else is willing to share a little bit of history with us this week.
Oh Webb I love this, the little gardener.
ReplyDeleteThanks for inviting us into your history.
xo J
It was funny. I just found this photo and it seemed perfect for the day. But, i do remember the iris.
Delete23 grandchildren, wow. Too bad about your irises, at least you've conserved them in this photo.
ReplyDeleteExactly. and I remember what they looked like - i still sort of watch for them in older gardens. Glad you stopped by.
DeleteWith 23 grandchildren, I wonder if she managed to keep track of who called her what, exactly!
ReplyDeletePerhaps that accounts for sticking to only one name. Am not sure she could have named all of us at once - I certainly cannot.
DeleteWonderful picture!
ReplyDeleteMy father played in a band on Virginia Beach in the 40's, and had such fond memories.
(I called my grandmother Nanny.)
My parents both grew up at VaBeach and told many, many stories of dancing to the big bands at the various "clubs" on the beach. It sounds like it was a carefree and fun time - pre-WW2. What an interesting connection.
DeleteJen! I called my grandmother Nanny too!
DeleteWhat a cute little kid you were! And gardening at an early age; a shame about the irises.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Gardening is the calming activity for many of the women in my family - the thing that we do when we need to think of have some time alone.
DeleteWebb, that is an idyllic photo. Those sleeves on your blouse set the photo in the late 60s, early 70s?
ReplyDeleteSadly, a bit earlier in time than that,but thanks for the compliment!
DeleteThis goes to show that gardening may, indeed, be in our genes. Caught the bug early, I see.
ReplyDeleteThat yellow iris can certainly be found, if you put the word out to garden clubs and online on garden forums. I'll bet the iris expert who consults at Monticello would know exactly which cultivar it was. I have her contact info, if you want it.
What an excellent idea. Sometimes my first thought is to look on the Internet, and then other times it simply does not occur to me - duh! Thanks for the idea. I may contact you if i don't make any progress.
DeleteWhat a very sweet photo of you gardening. And a sad loss of those beautiful flowers. Gardening is in the soul.
ReplyDeleteWith Hartwood's help, I might just find them again. Stay tuned.
DeleteOh I love the photo and that it captured you in your early gardening days! Your Grannie would be so proud of how you've continued in that vein.
ReplyDeleteShe would be. We were fairly close. I was one of the few grandchildren also interested in hand work. She gave me one piece of embroidery she did late in life and left me a second in her Will, so that i felt like a special connection went both ways.
DeleteAdorable pic, Webb. Never too early to start gardening, eh? Re: irises, have you tried an online search of iris specialty growers, nationwide. There's one in Boulder CO called Long's Iris Gardens that has multi varieties & they ship nationwide, I think. Good luck !
ReplyDeleteDiane in Denver
Thank you, too, Diane. Am going to try a couple of things to find them. appreciate the help!
ReplyDelete