Monday, February 20, 2012

Honeysuckle heaven

One of the things I miss most about the south is the flora.  I miss Mimosa's, Magnolias, Azaleas, wild blackberries, warm peaches, chinaberry blossoms, Orange blossoms, scuppernongs (mama called them scuppernucles) but especially honeysuckle.
Nothing was as much anticipated as the flowers of the honeysuckle vine.  That one trembling straw colored drop of heaven at the base of the stamen.  I remember being too young to know how to get it out.  I remember feeling so sad when the end of the stamen broke off and the drop of bliss was lost.  I remember rubbing the spent blossoms on my wrists so I would smell like a flower.  I enjoyed eating sourgrass, Indian grass, chewing on grass, and munching the occasional flower petal...but oh that honeysuckle, the aroma, the skill, the anticipation..it was just so exciting. 
I hate the heat, the humidity, palmetto bugs, fireants, cow killer ants, it's doubtful I'd ever willingly live there again.  I would like to visit again during honeysuckle time and I'd like to have some while hearing frogs and the whip-poor-will.     :)

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