Saturday, April 9, 2016

H is for Hellebore



H is for Annie Laurie's Hellebore


This is a post I did last year. At the bottom, you will see a follow up to it.



I first met Annie Laurie at the library where she had been a long time volunteer--over 30 years. She came once a week and did whatever was needed, and before she left, she picked up bagful of books to read. Reading was her passion. Then she developed breast cancer and eventually she was not well enough to volunteer any more. That's when Beth and I began to take bags of books to her house, mostly mysteries which were her favorites, and stay for a visit. In the comfort of Annie Laurie's home, I learned what a character she really was. She was opinionated, strong-willed, and very funny. We always had a good visit with lots of laughter even when her health was rapidly failing at the end.

One of our memorable visits was when Annie Laurie took Beth and I on a tour of the flowers around her farm house. Flowers and plants were another passion of hers. Rail thin and hobbling with her cane, she showed us lilies, daffodils, and hellebores. The hellebores were the favorite of both Beth's and mine. Over the years, Miss Annie Laurie had developed a forest floor of them. Under the shade of large trees, she showed us the many kinds she had. I didn't really appreciate all of the different varieties she was showing us, but I did appreciate the unassuming, downward facing, simple blossoms I saw.

After that, Beth and I were both in love with hellebores and wanted some for our gardens. But you know how it is, we never got around to getting any. That is why we were both so thrilled and honored when her sister, Dot, give us some from Annie Laurie's garden after she passed away.

I carefully chose a shaded spot by my front door to plant mine. It didn't seem to take the transplant so well and it's large leaves flopped. However, it was surviving. Beth and I exchanged letters with Dot from time to time, and she always asked how our hellebores were doing. I said mine was doing fine. I didn't think that she needed to know that maybe I hadn't done such a good job transplanting it and that it was struggling. Then a few months ago, she said that her's were blooming and wondered if ours were. I told her not yet because I didn't have anything more than one small bud forming at the base of the plant. I figured when that bloomed, I would take a picture of it to send to her and carefully crop out the flopping leaves. 

Bloom on end of smashed stock
Well, the stalk with the bud grew and grew until it was about 6 inches tall and was ready to bloom any day. And that's when it happened. Workman at the house stepped on it. I was upset, but worried more about what I was going to tell Dot. However, a few other buds showed up and they actually bloomed this week. And the best part of all is that the stalk that got stepped on has a flower on it's end also.

Now I could say something about the tenacity that Annie Laurie had in her life and how that was represented by my hellebore's blooming on a broken stem. Or I could say something about the blooms and how they were a sign from her, that she was still with us in a way. However, I would really like to think about my hellebore in the terms of how much Annie Laurie, Beth, and I would have laughed during the story I would tell about the hellebore I tried to plant and how it got smashed. :)
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Follow Up

The hellebore continued to bloom last spring and developed new, healthy growth. This spring it came up and formed flower buds. However, that didn't last long because it got stepped on again. And wouldn't you know it, that was just when Dot called and asked about the plant. I said that it wasn't blooming, but didn't elaborate. However, thank goodness, it is sprouting new growth again.

And what have I learned from all of this? Well for one thing, this is truly a special plant and it is the perfect to remind me of the beautiful and tenacious Annie Laurie. And another thing is that I better replant this in another spot as soon as possible before it gets smashed again. After we get done with the snow this weekend, that's exactly what I'm going to do.


12 comments:

  1. I don't remember reading the original story last year. Annie Laurie sounds like my kind of person. What a great way to remember her. I agree, she would have laughed about the hellebore being smashed flat. BTW, who is Beth?

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    1. Beth (not her real name) is a friend of mine who also knew Annie Laurie. We visited her together quite often. BTW, Annie Laurie is not a made up name. The name suited her well and I couldn't call her anything else.

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  2. Hi live and learn, You reminded me to go check on our hellebore. I had forgotten that we had one. I do remember this story, BTW. It's very touching. I remember the people in my own life who have given me plants from their gardens.

    It's supposed to snow, again? Well at least when it's snowing there's no thoughts of weeding, lawn-mowing, washing the car, cleaning the patio furniture -- just sitting cozy by the fireplace with a good book and a cup of cocoa. Enjoy the last touch of winter!

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    1. There was snow on the ground this morning, but it melted by afternoon. However, we're supposed to get some more this evening. The snow/wintery mix along with high winds will have me inside for sure.

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  3. Wow, that is amazing, that its been stepped on twice at least, but she keeps on budding. Great story.

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    1. I'm pretty amazed myself because it's not like it has been planted and established for a long time.

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  4. Loved reading this again. I miss you and Beth and Annie Laurie and everyone else there.

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    1. Annie Laurie was a special person, wasn't she? Miss you too, but like hearing about the farm. You're my inspiration to try new things.

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  5. Stepped on again, yes I think you should probably find another spot for it. Sounds like a pretty hardy plant to take such abuse. :-)

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    1. I put it near the front door where there is shade and I would see it often and think of Annie Laurie. However, obviously, that's not a good place for it.

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  6. Thanks for dropping by my blog. I'm returning the favor! This is a lovely story and a great lesson in tenacity. I don't know that I'd heard of this flower before.

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    1. Around here, a hellebore is a good plant for shade and is used a lot for that. However, I wasn't much aware of it either before Annie Laurie showed it to us.

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What do you think?