Veronica...is My Name

My family fed, guided and nourished me to become admired, not only by them

...also by relatives, friends and neighbours.  I grew tall and stately and beautiful

...always envied by many!  Many siblings I had, who matured beside me.

Together we were a “mosaic” of loveliness.

My Mother named me synonymous with ...”a beautiful girl with an amazing

sense of humour, good taste in music and movies.  She's really faithful.”

Veronica is derived from Latin meaning “true image”.  It is also a Biblical

name from Jesus' time...which was most appropriately inspired by my

mother's spiritual soul.

Born on a farm, I was tenderly raised ~ my image bloomed from summer to

frost, but in winter I was closeted  away in the basement...there to “rest and

hibernate”.  During my growing season and over winter, I “multiplied”

so that when the frozen ground became moist, I was separated from my

cluster...and replanted in deep 12 to 14 inch depth of rich soil...there to

become more Veronicas personified!  I was an ugly-looking-Dahlia-bulb

that became a symbol of beauty for my Mother's gorgeous garden!

The gardens, not only exemplified colour and beauty, the dahlia bulbs

were a source of income during “depression years”.  Her bulbs were

healthy, the flowers of dramatic significance.  For many years, her

dahlias won prizes at local fall fairs.  Each summer  the neighbours,

came, the friends came and  unknowns would drive in  by  horse and buggy

(or car if owned)  to admire her flamboyant dahlias.  “What is your secret,

Edna?” they would ask.

Dahlias are classified by The American Dahlia Society in US and Canada

and by The National Dahlia Society in the UK.  Dahlias bloom over a long

season and require minimal staking.  They have stunning forms...and colours

of yellow, purple, burgundy, pink, white and blends. Giant blooms of 10 to

12 inches are common; however smaller blooms will develop earlier, quicker

and oftener.  Tall dahlias are frequently planted in long straight rows  for

impressive effect; the smaller ones mingled with other plants as borders.

Each variation of dahlia is a beauty!  The petals can be spikey, wispy or

round...colours vary from numerous solids to painted mixtures of 3 colours.

Each fall, the whole community  attended Cemetery Day (later called

Decoration Day) to lay wreathes at graves of loved ones that once were.

My Mother, being of artistic nature, would assemble her flowers ~

dahlias, gladioli, snapdragons, marigolds, etc. arranged on asparagus

greenery and tied together with colour co-ordinated ribbons. 

This was a yearly gathering event where hundreds met to pay recognition

and chat with many they knew from the neighbourhood.

Generously, if requested, Mother created wreathes for others...at no cost. 

In return, they gave her home baked pies, batches of freshly baked cookies,

preserves or freshly made jam.

When visiting neighbours, friends or relatives for dinner, it was “a certain”

she'd bring a bouquet of roses, larkspur or dahlias...and of course,

there was a “Veronica” among them...greatly treasured!

Here's a Truth:  Dahlias are truly the “love flowers”,

because the more flowers you cut and give away,

the more flowers  the dahlia produces for you.!

Pearl of Wisdom

Live in the rose gardens of life;

live fully and live well

and do not fear the thorns.

(Iris Johansen from her novel

Stalemate)

Merle Baird-Kerr … written July 16, 2012

Comments appreciated...scroll down (may sign in as “anonymous”)

or e-mail...inezkate@gmail.com

Postscript:  I often wonder why rarely (if ever)

we see dahlias in flower shoppes.