Thursday, July 28, 2011

Help

I need your help.  This flower grew in my grandmother Mamie's garden, then in my mom's and now in mine.....what is it?  It appears mid-summer, the plant looks like a pot plant when it first bursts out of the ground, ( hey, I went to college) and then the stem reaches about 12 to 14 inches in height.  These long string things pop out, tiny pink and pale green buds and then the white blossoms.  They are beautiful, reappear every summer and I think my mom called them spider plants.
But, when you google spider plants, this is not what you get.  The flower ball is about six inches around.

I have several plants that belonged to my mom and grandmothers that I cannot identify, as they bloom I will post photos and maybe some of you can help me figure out what they are.

This is one of my regrets......not writing down the wisdom of my elders.  My mom and grandmothers knew so much about, plants, about traditional medicine.  My dad and his dad knew so much about farming.  All their  knowledge, gone forever.  My older sister knows a great deal and I pick her brain a lot......one of my big fears.....we move so far into the future, that we don't remember important information from the past.  I learned a lot, but I was young when my Mamie passed and she didn't share a great deal with her daughter -in-law (my mom)......my mom shared all she could remember, and my dad shared alot before he passed......but it is heartbreaking, all that has been lost.

I hope I do a better job, but you know I see my nieces and nephews eyes glaze over, when I talk to them about some of the old stuff......oh well, so it goes.  Maybe they will be like me, they will remember bits and pieces some day, and then they will grasp its value and cling to what is remembered.

Now, about this flower, let me know any info you may have!

9 comments:

  1. It is a Cleome, commonly called Spider Flower. Reseeds itself. Mystery solved.

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  2. Oh and if you want to see a non-marijuana but marijuana looking plant....Google Hibiscus coccineus. I had that one in VA and had a few raised eyebrows when it was noticed in my garden.

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  3. I wish I had paid attention when my grandmother, mom and aunts tried to teach me to sew and bake bread. And I wish I had written down the stories of past generations they used to tell. I'm already forgetting the stories and really would like some of Nana's bread.

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  4. Hi Jilda,
    I am glad someone was able to give you the name of the plant. My grandmother wanted me to take a plant from her garden before she died and I told her I loved seeing it bloom in her garden and didn't take it. I just felt at the time like it was taking something that would hasten her departure from me. She was very 'put out' with me that I didnt' take it and soon after she died the house was sold and I never gathered what was a family heirloom. I've always regretted not acting on her request...Sigh~

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  5. Jilda, your nieces and nephews might not be interested now but I bet they will later. Have you thought about writing your knowledge down?

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  6. It looks like the mystery of this beautiful flower is solved!!! Yay!!!!

    I think you should just keep on with the younger generation. Their eyes may glaze over but their brains are absorbing what you tell them!! That's the beauty of youth!!

    Take care
    x

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  7. Hi Jilda,
    I had no idea what your plant was called but see that others did!
    I keep a garden journal. I've been doing it for years now. I write down and take photos of my plants and their placement in my yard. Also things that we've done and added over the years.
    It helps me to know what plants I do good with and which ones I've tried and failed with. It's fun. I also write down how many times I've gotten poison ivy and sumac while working out there!!!
    What works best on certain pests and other things. It's fun.
    Love Di ♥

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  8. Jilda:

    Anytime you can not identify a plant go to "Petals of the Past". They are located in Jemison, Alabama and are usually able to identify plants for you. They specialize in plants from the old gardens.

    Becky

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  9. I'm really excited to learn what these flowers are. I have some at my late Great Uncle's cabin in Virginia. They've been there for decades. Thanks!

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