Aunt Cleora's Apples
This is the time of year that I find most difficult with regard to the garden. It’s too cold and wet to work out there, though it sorely needs it. I’m inclined to blame my reluctance on aging bones, but the truth of the matter is that I’ve always been a fair weather gardener – too many years in the more temperate weather of California, I guess.
Other than calling to me to “pull out” and “clean up” and “plant,” our garden offers very little at this time of year. It’s between blossoms, as far as the rhododendrons go. We have several varieties that bloom in February, but the rest don’t begin showing color until late in April. The green shoots of the hyacinth border are well up but there are no blue-violet blossoms yet. The camellias are coming on, but barely. And this year, even our daffodils are behind schedule.
I notice all this on Fridays, especially, because that’s the day I most often pick flowers for the house. I like to have at least two bouquets indoors – one in the silver bowl on the library mantle, and one in the center of the dining room table. But right now, it’s slim pickings.
My grandmother had a bowl of wax fruit that she always placed on the dining table during the winter months. When I was a little girl, I didn’t really appreciate the why of it. I was somehow offended by those fake bananas and faux grapes. It never occurred to this little California girl that fresh fruit was a luxury during Oysterville winters of the 1940s.
What I did like (and still do!) were “Aunt Cleora’s Fruit Pictures” – that’s what the family has always called the six gorgeous watercolors grouped on the north wall of the dining room. There are peaches, plums cherries, raspberries, sloes and apples, all looking life-like enough to eat.
Many other paintings, both watercolors and oils, in this house were done by Aunt Cleora. Cleora (Stone) Richardson (1827-1904) was actually my grandmother’s great-aunt by marriage and had died long before either my mother or I were born. However, in many ways I feel I ‘know’ her better than some of my living ‘real’ relatives. Her personality comes shining through her paintings and makes a day-to-day impact on my life.
Nevertheless, I miss having a garden full of flowers to choose from on Fridays. I’ll be glad when this tween time is past and the blossoms of spring and summer are upon us – or will be if I gird up these old loins and get to work out there…
I understand exactly how you feel. There is a picture hanging in my family room of a summer flower border along a friendly looking porch. Especially during this time of year, I long to be rocking or swinging on the porch enjoying the scents and sounds of that lovely garden. As to my own garden, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”! As I left for work this AM, I noticed my hyacinths are just starting to flower. The lilacs, one of my favorites, can’t be too far behind!
Sydney — I hope this reaches you ! I also tried writing to the willapaby email address …
Mary Cleora (Stone) Richardson’s paintings adorn my walls too! I can’t believe this!!!
My heart is racing! So hoping to share info with you and see images of the paintings you have — and any stories about Cleora.
Cleora and her husband lived with their son, my grandmother’s father, in their old age. Nana remembers her Grandma Richardson bringing in garden flowers, fruit, laying them on the kitchen table, and painting them in their natural beauty….
I had no idea there was someone else ‘out there’ with the same love of Cleora’s paintings….
Please, PLEASE write!
Bonnie, breathless!
Bonnie, I am thrilled to pieces to hear from you. I have just sent you a long email which, I hope, will not be the last of our communications about Aunt Cleora, her paintings, our family ‘connections’ etc! Thank you so much for getting in touch!