For HJ
One reason we went to New England on our recent trip was to fulfill the wishes of our Austin friend Helen-Jo (HJ) Hewitt. Before her death last November at the age of almost 91, she’d asked, as a longtime member of the New England Wild Flower Society, if I’d disperse her ashes among the ferns and orchids at the Garden in the Woods in Framingham, Massachusetts. On June 1st, accompanied by Eve and the Society’s Director of Philanthropy Tracey Willmott and horticulturist Anna Fialkoff, I did so.
At the same time, I meant to take some memorial nature photographs in the gardens but a light rain got in the way. On June 12th I stopped back by for an hour to take my pictures, some of which I’ll post here on and off over the next few weeks, beginning today with the flower and seed capsule of a celandine poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum.
© 2018 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Two flawless pictures, Steve!
Indira
June 30, 2018 at 4:57 AM
I was especially happy with the one of the flower because of the shadows.
Steve Schwartzman
June 30, 2018 at 7:06 AM
she would be so happy, what lovely pictures and a lovely final gesture –
ksbeth
June 30, 2018 at 6:43 AM
Thanks for appreciating the pictures and the gesture.
Steve Schwartzman
June 30, 2018 at 7:16 AM
Knowing she could count on you to fulfill her wishes surely provided comfort as she neared life’s end. It’s good that you were able to help her reach a place that was special to her.
shoreacres
June 30, 2018 at 6:58 AM
She asked at least twice in her final years. I imagine the most recent time was for reassurance.
Steve Schwartzman
June 30, 2018 at 7:21 AM
Very nice shots. I visited a couple of years ago and enjoyed the Woods, even though not much was in bloom at the time.
Robert Parker
June 30, 2018 at 7:53 AM
Now that you’re close by and in a better season, you have an incentive to make a return visit. That visit could be the subject of a post.
Steve Schwartzman
June 30, 2018 at 7:56 AM
A fitting good-bye, I think.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Pit
Pit
June 30, 2018 at 8:17 AM
Yes, a fitting good-bye. Thanks.
Steve Schwartzman
June 30, 2018 at 8:37 AM
🙂
Pit
June 30, 2018 at 8:48 AM
Aw, that’s fantastic. We should all have such respect and reverence for our friends that we faithfully fulfill such requests. After all, wakes and funerals are for the living; it sounds as if you and Eve did quite a bit of living to honor your friend’s request to her fitting end. Beautiful photos; that goes without saying. My best!
Shannon
June 30, 2018 at 9:04 AM
Another blogger I follow; the quote kind of goes!
https://bobbiblogger.wordpress.com/2018/06/30/may-your-life-be-like-a-wildflower/
Shannon
June 30, 2018 at 9:07 AM
If our lives are like wildflowers, we still have to hope the mowers won’t cut us down prematurely!
Steve Schwartzman
June 30, 2018 at 9:18 AM
Thanks, Shannon. You put it well. There was no way I wouldn’t have fulfilled HJ’s request. The only question was when we would go. As things turned out, we chose a good time of year.
Steve Schwartzman
June 30, 2018 at 9:17 AM
This a lovely tribute to a friend, Steve.
melissabluefineart
June 30, 2018 at 3:46 PM
Thanks, Melissa.
Steve Schwartzman
June 30, 2018 at 5:33 PM
Actually, I’m searching for a “Subscribe” button on your site, too, since it no longer comes to my inbox for some reason.
melissabluefineart
July 2, 2018 at 10:09 AM
The subscription box is near the top of the right sidebar, just below the search box.
Steve Schwartzman
July 2, 2018 at 10:24 AM
Lovely shots and a beautiful goodbye.
Leya
June 30, 2018 at 3:57 PM
Thanks, Leya.
Steve Schwartzman
June 30, 2018 at 5:33 PM
How special that you were able to fulfill your friend’s last wish, Steve.
tanjabrittonwriter
July 1, 2018 at 5:45 PM
It was special. I’d never done that, and probably never will again.
Steve Schwartzman
July 1, 2018 at 6:31 PM
How lovely; how lovely that you were entrusted with this responsibility and that you were able to oblige.
Gallivanta
July 2, 2018 at 6:05 AM
It’s just sad that she can’t receive this post the way she did all the ones until November of last year.
Steve Schwartzman
July 2, 2018 at 6:15 AM
Yes, definitely sad.
Gallivanta
July 2, 2018 at 7:01 AM
Wonderful images … what a lovely place for your friend to be. So special ..
Julie@frogpondfarm
July 4, 2018 at 2:44 PM
Yes, so special… Thanks.
Steve Schwartzman
July 4, 2018 at 5:29 PM