Seeing heaven in a wildflower

To see a world in a grain of sand,

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand

And eternity in an hour. William Blake

My mom, Lois Coogle, was never much of one for “store bought.” She was a firm believer in making it yourself whether it was furniture or clothes for her four daughters. My brother, Lee, seemed exempt from homemade clothing. Lucky Lee. Mom was better with a paintbrush than a needle.

Mom dressed for her 60th wedding anniversary party.

Not spending money was just one of the reasons Mom liked to do things herself. The other was that she had an incredible and impressive ability to see potential in things other people would either ignore (at best) or throw away (more often.)

As a child, I hid my head in embarrassment more than once as my mother stopped to go through the neighbor’s trash piled on the street. Inevitably she’d drag out something – a broken chair or an old lamp – and bring it home. As soon as she walked in the door, she’d call out “Ken! (my dad) Ken! I have a little five minute job for you!”

Ken and Lois Coogle

My dad, probably the most patient man in the world, would take her trash and make it functional and then she would infuse it with creativity. She’d clean and paint it a plain color then add beautiful designs of fruits or flowers. And then she’d sell it, making a tidy profit from things other people had thrown away.

Mom’s trash – to – treasure attitude extended to flowers. I never remember her buying flowers for anything. “Why would you?” she would ask, “when the garden and the woods are full of things you can use.”

Mom in 2002

For decades she took “flower” arrangements to her Sunday school class at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. Every Sunday. When the garden was in bloom, it wasn’t a problem. Daylilies and phlox, roses and daisies went into her arrangements.

In the dead of winter, though, her arrangements became more creative. Nothing was without potential. She never saw weeds, she only saw wildflowers. Dried grasses, bare twigs, autumn leaves, pine branches…..she could somehow make them all look elegant and beautiful – or at least interesting.

The only store bought flowers Mom loved were the roses Dad got her on their wedding anniversary, one for each year they had been married. The final count was 64!!

If anyone could see “heaven in a wildflower” I’m sure it was my Mom. We never talked about grains of sand, but I am completely confident that in them, she could see an entire world.

I am so grateful for this legacy, so proud to be her daughter. Every time I write a line or paint a flower, I think of her, but perhaps I miss her most when I pick a clump of weeds and call them wildflowers. I imagine her in heaven, picking weeds and painting something beautiful on the pearly gates.

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Jerrie Woodward
Jerrie Woodward
3 years ago

Laura this is such a true description of Lois. AND I didn’t know it but I’m sure we are related. I miss her spontaneous friendship all the time

Cousin Donna King
Cousin Donna King
3 years ago

Amen! She could make absolutely anything beautiful! You would be amazed at all of the “Aunt Lois & Uncle Ken” items I have in my home! I even have a photograph of them on my dresser, near one of my parents. I miss them both!

Ann duFrane
Ann duFrane
3 years ago

What a lovely tribute to a special lady. I am so glad you inherited her love for plants and flowers, and just NATURE….it gives us all so much pleasure. It could be just from viewing, or from getting out and weeding, planting, cutting flowers and arranging…I share your love of all of this.

Aviva
Aviva
3 years ago

I LOVE reading, learning, and smiling as I check out your weekly blog! But this one touches my heart in an extra particular way that I could not help responding too.

So much of how you describe your mom in this blog is how I see you:) The apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree:) Sooooooo creative, seeing potential in the not-so-obvious, and just having that unique vision in life. You inspire me in this same way!!!

Jeanne Fredericks
3 years ago

What a touching tribute to your mom! I better understand now the source of your creativity and love of gardens and nature. I, too, was blessed with a mom who inspired me with her creative sewing and crafts projects, and her ability to transform gardens everywhere we moved.

Jayne
3 years ago

What a lovely tribute to a Mother who obviously instilled a love of flowers and Nature in you! Very touching!