Legacy

Two and half years ago I was gifted these Irises from a dear and longtime client.  We planted them near the front door, and my impatient self thought they would certainly bloom the following spring…but, surprise, I was wrong.  Two springs went by with no blooms, and I was worried they would never reach their potential...

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And yesterday, April 21st, they finally opened up!!  

In my watching and waiting for flowers the last few weeks, many reflections have come up. From the practical, “I wondered what the flower would look like”, “how many would bloom”, and “would I dare cut them for my enjoyment or leave them where they bloom” to the more philosophical reflections of how I deal with patience, not knowing, and timing.  My reflections were at times silent thoughts and at other times, were direct conversations with the plants (like my grandma taught me to do).
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 And in my reflections and conversations, they talked back.  When they came out in all their glory yesterday I heard the word LEGACY.  In this thoughtful and beautiful gift, the beauty of this Iris will be around for generations – inspiring and uplifting in its majestic presence.  A simple gift with a lasting presence.  A long journey with a big reward.  
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 When we think of how to impact our community and environment, we often have grand ideas.  But simple and subtle is often more powerful and more lasting.  With her generous gift, my client planted a legacy, in the most unassuming and quiet way. Each time I enter my front door, I am reminded of the courageous, gentle, compassionate, and nurturing woman who gave them to me.  The legacy is a gift of beauty AND a call to embody the qualities of the gift giver.  The Irises will be here when this is no longer my home.  Inspiring generation after generation with their gift of beauty, grace, and regal-ness…a precious legacy indeed.  My prayer is that those that inherit these flowers love them and care for them as the home’s gatekeepers of elegance, generosity, and blessings.
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 P.S.  And in poignant timing, the Irises opened on a rainy day – infusing raindrops with their color to make Purple Rain.  A regal flower for the man with the regal name - a powerful force of creative legacy for our time. 

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