Riches

/ J. F. Riordan

For many women, chocolate is a passion, but I can take it or leave it. My passion is for flowers. There is not a day in my life when, given the choice, I would not choose flowers over candy, and probably over jewelry, too. (But not over dogs.)

I got my love for flowers from my mother. When I was very tiny, she would take me to the vacant lot next to my Grandmother’s house to pick violets. The property was carpeted in purple, and it was almost frustrating to pick, because I wanted to scoop them up all at once, but instead, had to painstakingly reach beneath the big leaves to find the tender stems, one at a time. I remember not being very good at it, which tells me I was probably three at the most, but together we picked masses of violets. I still feel that same frustration when I pick violets, but I never miss an opportunity to have a bowlful in my house. I allow them to grow even though they spread so recklessly in my garden beds. People say mint is bad, but in my little ecosystem, violets are far more aggressive.

My mother also grew zinnias and big purple and pink asters in her garden. I loved the deep, vibrant colors, and the way they jostled one another in a brilliant haphazard jumble. Later, she grew sweet peas, and they grew in a jungle of coiling stems against a big stone wall. She gave me seeds for them every year, but somehow, I never planted them, and now I regret it deeply. The only plant I have in my garden that came from hers is the centaurea montana, a big purple relative of the bachelor button. She and I picked lilacs together every spring, and when she got older, I would pick them for her, filling a large purple vase with them. I planted her window box with geraniums for her, too. She could sit in her chair by the window and look out at them all summer long, and that gave her a great deal of pleasure.

I always have flowers in my house, usually in every room. At the moment I have white amaryllis and hyacinth bulbs growing in a wooden box of moss and ivy on the dining room table; various colors of tulips: orange in the hall and kitchen, purple and white in the living room; orange alstroemeria in the library and purple in the powder room; cut white hyacinths and lilies in the bedroom; and two brilliant red amaryllis on the edge of the bathtub. In the depths of winter I love the contrast of the fragile blooms indoors and the bitter cold outdoors. They make me feel that all is well. I like almost all flowers.

But never give me a poinsettia.

My mother always said that if she were rich she would have fresh flowers and clean sheets every single day. I feel the same way, and I suppose, that–and her tender care for animals—is her legacy to me. Riches, indeed.

I go a little crazy at the farmers’ market.

19 thoughts on “Riches”

  5. I adore flowers, too. I have two rose of sharon plants from the garden of my grandmother’s dearest friend in New Jersey, given to me in 2005, I think. It was just in time, as her property was sold after her death and the entire garden was razed to build a monstrosity of a home too large for the lot. But I still have Olga Bertilotti’s plants, blooming every year.

    I also adore jewelry, though. Bought the most incredible ruby earrings and pendant when I was in Turkey last year. Nothing says I can’t have my fleeting beauties and my eternal beauties!

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  8. Once or twice a year I’ll get an urge to have some chocolate but not more often, it’s never been among my favorite things, I usually pick vanilla ice cream over chocolate if those are the 2 choices.
    I was shocked to learn that chocolate was dangerous for dogs because we had a couple of dobes where we would treat them with chocolate. (Before the internet was a mainstream thing.)
    The reason they were fine was it was small doses and they were large dogs, (my big male was near 120lbs in shape in his prime.)
    I can appreciate people who appreciate flowers, I see why you all do.

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  9. Say whaaat? Flowers over jewelry…. Nope, this is where we differ, Mrs. R-S! 🤭 I need my drip, Piper! 

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  10. Beautiful flowers! I can skip the jewelry but flowers and a good dark chocolate is not something I would ever pass on. In the early nineties before I was able to support myself with my artwork, I catered weddings for a wonderful inn here in Hunterdon County NJ.
    The best part of that career was baking and decorating the wedding cakes with my garden flowers of peonies and roses. A lifetime ago.

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  11. As I recall you don’t keep your amaryllis bulbs and rebloom them. You have a florist who has amaryllis bulbs in bud/bloom in January?? Sorry about your sweet pea seeds. I have peonies, iris and lilies from Mom and Dad’s farm where I grew up. I cherish them. And I need to share them with my sisters even though they struggle keeping plastic plants alive.

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  12. I would have liked your mother. She knew what true luxury is. Flowers are a passion of mine. Fresh flowers are an extravagance in the winter but the super markets always provide tulips, roses, carnations, mums and the rare zinnia. It looks as it you have struck it rich with your market. What a gorgeous haul on your sink! I used to grow flowers but the deer eat everything even if you spray to kill their appetites. One year they devoured 5 hydrangea bushes. They were hungry. And the deer are beautiful too.

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  13. Your flower arrangements are always beautiful. I think it’s a talent to be able to arrange picture perfect flower arrangements. Your Mother gifted you with a lovely legacy.

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  14. I sure understand your love for flowers especially those your mother shared with you. My mom shared many with me also and I wish I still had some of them. I tried to bring some with us during our move, but not much survived. We still have the appreciation.

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  15. There is nothing more cheerful than fresh flowers throughout the home. Outside our favorites are sunflowers. I love the unfolding of the amaryllis. Magical. January 27-April 28 is the Smithsonian’s annual orchid show(350 varieties) in the atrium of the American Art Museum, formerly known as the Portrait Gallery. The exhibit always smells so amazing.

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