The Daffnet posts about seeing daffodil friends at the annual meeting and show in California and a little local Cincinnati happening last night I think make the point that for many of us the participation in ADS and local daffodil activities is about much more than just growing daffodils and entering shows and winning awards.
It’s about being connected to people with whom you share an interest. Over time, these people become friends and people that you enjoy being with and doing things with.
One of the founders of the group here in Cincinnati was Peggy Macneale, who sadly is no longer with us. However, she was a strong recruiter and was personally responsible for the participation of Tom Stettner, Linda Wallpe, and me. Some of us have also had ties with the Macneale family and right now one of Peggy’s grandsons, Chris, is doing some consulting work in Cincinnati periodically.
Linda Wallpe and her husband Paul, along with me and some of the Wallpes’ friends met Chris for dinner out at a neighborhood dive last night. We all connected so well that I didn’t get home for three hours. Chris, who lives in the Portland, OR area told us about visiting the Mitsch gardens and how every time his mother (one of Peggy’s daughters) visits she brings more bulbs of ‘Peggy’s Gift’ to plant. Of course ‘Peggy’s Gift’ was so named by Sir Frank to honor the occasion of Peggy Macneale’s 85th birthday.
Anyway, after the dinner, as we were all preparing to leave, I noticed a group come into the restaurant and one of the women in the group was wearing a sweatshirt covered with daffodil images. Of course it was one of our local members, Michelle Truitt.
You just never know where we’re going to turn up!
Bill Lee