Spring is that time of year for thousands of flowers everywhere to present us with their glorious annual display. As I sat here thinking about the beauty of Spring, I began to reminisce about the very first time I noticed certain flowers.
I was just a small child visiting my Aunt Mary and Uncle Richard in Montgomery, Alabama. They lived in a beautiful brick ranch-style home that sat back from the road quite a ways. Leading from the street to the front door was a slightly winding walkway, lined on both sides with hundreds of colorful daylillies. It was like something I had never seen before and to me seemed absolutely magical. This was the first time I had ever seen daylillies and to this day when I see them I always think of my Aunt Mary.
Born an Air-Force brat meant moving a lot when I was very young. I lived in several states before starting second grade in Florida. Once we moved to Clearwater, we were able to visit family who vacationed in Zephyrhills every year as they escaped the winter weather in Maine. Mom and Dad would sit around and visit with Wally and Lully in their apartment and I would go outside to skip up and down the sidewalk. On the edge of that walk was the biggest tree I had ever seen. I would stand underneath that tree and try to see the top but it was too massive. That tree just happened to be a magnolia and not only did its size intrigue me but its plate-sized lemon scented flowers were intoxicating. Ever since then, magnolias have been my favorite tree and yes, I can still picture myself skipping along that sidewalk in Zephyrhills every time I see one.
Do you remember your first?
