Pa didn’t like lilacs. Said he didn’t like how they smelled. So we had none on our farm. But a long row of lilacs grew along the
entire southern fence surrounding our country school. The lilac bushes were tall and thick and
during the last weeks of school in May the bushes were covered with beautiful,
sweet smelling, lilac flowers. Our
teacher always had a fresh bouquet on her desk each day, their fragrance
turning the lingering smoky smell in the school room after a long winter into
the sweet smell of spring.
So I've always liked lilacs, and
when we bought Roshara in 1966, I was pleased to find a long row of them
growing near the remnants of the farm buildings. The Coombes family, who owned the farm
previously, must have liked lilacs for they planted three kinds: dark purple,
lavender and a very tall growing white variety.
Best we could determine they were planted in 1912, when the Coombes
family constructed the farm buildings.
Now, more than a hundred years later, we have a big bouquet of lilacs on
the cabin table, their sweet smell crowding out the lingering smells of wood
smoke after a long winter.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Take time to smell the lilacs.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: I received an update on enrollments in my
writing class (Saturday, June 21) at The Clearing. There remain a few openings and it is still
time to sign up. Go to this link for further information. http://theclearing.org/current/classes_workshop_description.php?id=3
If that doesn’t work write or call The
Clearing:
12171 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210
(920) 854-4088.
12171 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210
(920) 854-4088.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
June 20, Wausau Historical Society, 10:00 a.m.
Presentation. Stories from the Land.
June 21, Writing Workshop, The Clearing, Door County
9-4.
July 12-19. Writing Retreat, Rhinelander, WI.
July 23.
Jacksonport Historical Society, Mr. G’s, 6:00 p.m. Jacksonport, WI.
Horse Drawn Days
July 26, Wild Rose Historical Society, Book Signing 10:00 - 2:00.
July 29, Ephraim Historical Foundation. 7:00 p.m.
Barns of Wisconsin.
Purchase
Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose,
Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):
The library now has available both of Jerry’s DVDs, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps A Farm Story.
Also available are several of Jerry’s book including
The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD
Jerry Apps a Farm Story).
Contact the library for prices and special package
deals.
1 comment:
Aaahh lilacs! I love to think of 100 years of lilac bouquets on the kitchen table.
Post a Comment