In the frosty weather we've been having the last while, there is one flower that is blooming brightly: the Remembrance Day poppy pinned to our jackets. Make a hot cup of tea and let's talk about the real-life version of the poppy.
"Papaver Rhoeas" is the plant immortalized in John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields". This hearty annual is lovely to look at, with bright red petals streaked with black at their throats. In Europe, this poppy, also called the corn poppy, is considered more of a weed than a thing of beauty because of its invasive growing habit, with seeds that can lie dormant until the right growing conditions come along, such as tilling or disturbing the soil.
Such were the conditions the spring of 1915 around Ypres; despite the horrific ravages of war on the landscape, the warm weather caused the poppy seeds lying in the battle-mangled soil to germinate. This was the sight that caught at the heart of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, moving him and inspiring him to write his haunting poem.
One more interesting little factoid for you: the idea of wearing a poppy in remembrance began with a lady named Moina Michael who worked at the YMCA Overseas War Secretaries office in New York. On November 9, 1918, Moina was at work thumbing through a magazine that had printed the poem "In Flanders Fields". She was deeply moved by the words in the last verse about holding the torch, causing her to write her own poem "We Shall Keep The Faith" in reply, and she made a promise to herself that she would always wear a red poppy to keep the memory of the fallen soldiers alive. Moina must have liked flowers, because in an effort to provide a cheery atmosphere, she always decorated the office with flowers at her own expense. On that particular day, her efforts were rewarded by several visiting soldiers who left a ten dollar donation in appreciation for the cheerful setting in the office. Moina used the money to buy 25 red silk poppies from a nearby department store; she wore one of the poppies, and gave the rest to delegates attending a local conference, explaining the purpose of the poppies. And a tradition was born.
Please wear a poppy this week: in memory and in thanks for the brave men and women who gained our freedom. We are truly blessed to live in beautiful Canada. And think of Moina, too, who brought flowers to her office and started a chain reaction of events that led to a great tradition and a great way to honor the valor of our soldiers.
Maybe next spring you and I can plant some poppies: they grow easily from seed once the danger of frost is past. Since they don't like to be transplanted, we can sow them directly into our gardens. There are many, many varieties of poppies, all with showy, crepe-paper blooms and delicate stems that sway in the breeze. They can add a natural, carefree look to our gardens, and will often re-seed themselves. They're a nice addition to our gardens!
The Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, November 27. This is a members only (and guests) meeting, and will include a delicious banquet, silent auction, meeting, and an exciting presentation by Vicky and John Ostrowercha on their travels to Holland's "Floriad" flower show. (And if there is time, Debbie and Keith Hayward will do a brief presentation on their trip to the Mediterranean.) Call Liz at 782-2830 for full details.
Till next time, take a moment for peaceful contemplation on November 11, and have a good week!
