Camellias

Teach your children

what we have taught our children --

that the earth is our mother.

Whatever befalls the earth

befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.

I men spit upon the ground,

they spit upon themselves.

This we know.

The earth does not belong to us,

we belong to the earth.

This we know.

All things are connected

like the blood with unites on family.

All things are connected.

Whatever befalls the earth

befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.

We did not weave the web of life,

We are merely a strand in it.

Whatever we do to the web,

we do to ourselves.

                          

                                    CHIEF SEATTLE                                                                            

My late mother use to tell me of the lovely camellias to which she was introduced when she moved to Southern California from Iowa. Her descriptions were just so lovely as well as so foreign to someone living in Iowa.  So when I was first escorted to my first dance during junior high school I requested a camellia I could wear around my wrist.

While in Sebastopol for the Farmers Market, I dropped off books at the library. On either side of the walkway to the library entrance there are a number of camellia bushes. Some are in bloom while others only have flower buds.

I broke off a piece with a bud and open flower of one of the bushes. When I arrived back at my home, I placed it in a small milk jar. It now adorns my table where I eat most of my meals. 

When my late husband and and I moved to our house, the front yard had many camellia bushes. I advertised that camellia bushes were available for the taking. A gentleman responded and he came, dug them all up and planned to plant them in large pots. I was so grateful that someone was going to enjoy what I did not want. For those of you who follow this blog you are aware native plants have been planted (and are flourishing) in the front yard.

As I look outside there is a bit of blue sky and big puffy white clouds. The rain, for now, seems to have passed. Of course, more is predicted this week. All rain is relished since the moisture is so needed. 

 I wish for all of you, and myself as well, a hardy belly