Often we crave what we can't (or shouldn't)
have. For most of the year our world is a
veritable garden of Eden. For colder climes
spring is months away. In Montana winter is
a veritable white out. Hence our mountains
and terra firma are covered with a blanket
of snow. Yet on even the coldest of days the
sun often shines in our crystal clear big blue
sky. Still some locals crave heat and escape
south where "mucks" are not necessary. But
is life worth living sans the seasonal yin and
yang of winter versus summer? Don't we all
occasional need to cool our heels?!
Per the Bible, the Lord giveth and taketh away.
The ebb and flow of the seasons put things in
for centuries. Absence does make one's heart
grow fonder. Hence in days of yore much of
what we adored was far beyond reach during
the winter. Even for the most affluent unless
they had a hot house. Flowers and all sorts of
fruits and vegetables were but a dream during
the darkest months of winter. And in an odd
way said lack of plenty enabled one to enjoy
them all the more when available. Today just
about anything is within reach year round.
The result being that nothing seems special.
To everything there is a season. Or... at least
that's the way it was in my youth. My mother
adored asparagus. As a tot we went green
once said spears were in season. From April
through June Ethel devoured ALL asparagus
within her reach. Her favorite way to serve
them was steamed (to mush) then carefully
arranged upon a slice of buttered, toast sans
crust. We also dined upon asparagus soup,
shuffles, and quiche. By the time the season
ended we'd had more than enough and were
ready to move on to some other in-season
delight such as fresh strawberries.
It may be a memory but back then everything
tasted so much better. Today one can pickup
asparagus at the grocer any day. And yet said
spindly spikes offer little more than a strange
residual odor the morning after. Everything
once exotic is now ordinary fare. The result
of which is pablum at best. There is nothing,
I repeat nothing like a freshly picked berry
that is still warm from the sun. Which just
may be why I refuse to eat tomatoes except
during late August through the first frost.
Such delayed gratification is proof that the
best things in life are well worth waiting for.
However when it comes to flowers I lower
my in-season standards. I can't imagine life
sans flora. During the winter there is little
as lovely than the dichotomy of a posy in
the frozen tundra. Nor nothing as decadent
as a table centered on a bevy of floribunda.
However the ultimate indulgence is having
others make the arrangements for you. And
that's where your local florist delivers. Here
in Lewistown we're blessed with two floral
resources. Stokken family owned Alpine
Floral has been making central Montana all
the more beautiful for over forty years.
Who says dreams don't come true? Recently
a newcomer blossomed on our local scene.
Home grown Eryn Kucera just opened her
new floral and home shop called Wild Iris.
Eryn's floral expressions are younger, looser,
and more natural than traditional floral
arrangements. Plus the array of gifts in her
shop are new, fresh, modern, and different
from what one usually finds in town. All of
which proves that even in the dead of winter
something fresh can spring up where one
least expects it. So why not color your world
with some flowers today? Grow for it!
FLORAL,
GREENHOUSE,
& NURSERY
302 East Lake Street
Lewistown, Montana 59457
406-538-8758
800-344-8575
alpineinc@midrivers.com
www.aplinefloralmt.com
WILD IRIS
FLORAL
& HOME
415 W Janeaux Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
406-535-2737
wildirisfloralandhome@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/
wildirisfloralandhome/
