Keeping focused on her Antique and Uniques Shop, Aunt Mildred didn’t have a lot of time to spend working in her yard through the years. Annuals took too much work, but she did have a few perennials that she cherished. Her favorite was the Peonies that were given to her by a dear friend’s grandmother.
She has memories of the sophisticated southern lady living in what seemed to be a mansion. It was exciting to be invited to spend the weekend with young girls. Her friend’s grandmother always served two-o’clock tea in the gardens. There were lovely pastel tablecloths layered on the glass top table. Little sandwiches with the crust cut off were served with warm, sweet peach tea. The Fine China pattern and the flower print napkins always coordinated with the tablecloths. A stately centerpiece of fresh flowers in an oversized crystal vase graced the center of their table. During the month of May, it was always the gorgeous Peonies, blooms large and perfect, each lacy petal forming layers too many to count. The fragrance filled the garden.
When Aunt Mildred was married, she received a start of those perfect flowers. With each move throughout her adult life, she managed to nurture a start and keep the memory going.
So today, she filled her favorite pitcher, rather than a cut glass crystal vase for the first time at her new home in Spring Forrest. She set it so to double in her antique mirror. It was just the right angle to reflect the picture on her wall of the Holstein cow that reminds her of more of the memories she cherishes. She recalls returning to her modest childhood farm home, the yard filled with zinnias and marigolds looking forward to the peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the crust on, served on a blue enamelware plate, washed down with a cup of ice cold milk from a stoneware pitcher.
How blessed she is to have the flowers and the memories she holds so dear. She took a whiff of the sweet fragrance and looked back at the picture again, thinking to herself, I believe I will plant some Zinnias this year.
