Recently, a very dear new friend invited me to his place to pick wildflowers. My friend had no way of knowing what joy that invitation brought me. Wildflowers hold a special place in the hearts of many people. They may symbolize love and friendship but also represent hope and new beginnings. Their spring blooms are a time of renewal and growth.
I’ve always loved the outdoors and wide open spaces. I grew up poor and the outdoors was my playground. My siblings and I didn’t have toys. Jobs were scarce. My family and I lived in shacks in various farming communities. Our shacks were surrounded by acres of farmland. Beautiful wildflowers grew in the wild, kissed by the sun, and untouched by humans. Their wide spectrum of violent colors ranged from purple, bright yellow, and various shades of red. We were poor, but God provided a blanket of beauty as far as the eye could see.
The wildflowers looked like a living painting. One spring day, I was determined to step into the painting and run free. I was twelve years old and lived in shacks all my life. I wanted to experience beauty. The ground was soft beneath my bare feet as I ran through the vibrate parade of flowers. Butterflies traveled between the flowers to pollinate, ensuring the next generation would be just as beautiful. I felt a sense of intense peace, belonging, and freedom. Every so often, I stopped to lift my face toward the beaming sun. I felt a sense of hope and new beginnings.The connection to earth and Mother Nature made me feel invigorated and refreshed.
When I grew older, I remember a song by Skylark, entitled Wildflowers. The lyrics are sad, but I played the song over and over. It reminded me of the hard times my family and I faced living in poverty. As a young adult, I was like that free and gentle flower growing wild, wishing someone would pick me from the garden. Who picks a poor girl?
Some years later, Tom Petty sang his version of Wildflowers. He sang, “You belong among the wildflowers, you belong somewhere you feel free.” By this time, I had survived a tumultuous divorce and was experiencing new beginnings. I believed I belonged among the wildflowers.
At the designated time, my friend was ready for our wildflower adventure. We had shears, vases, water, and a Gator buggy to carry us across many acres to admire and pick the perfect flowers. We laughed and talked as we cherished the moments. Before our adventure ended, he stopped and cut the perfect bouquet of white, yellow, and purple flowers for me. It triggered a “warm glow” effect.
For me, it’s the simple things. I was among the wildflowers with a dear friend who didn’t know that wildflowers hold a special place in my heart. Now he does!
Francie Mae. May 13, 2026.