Swamp Mallow Memory

The day after school ended I woke up and found a big square box on our front step. Inside was a magnificently huge flower sitting on a bed of ice with a card attached that said, “good morning” and signed with his name.

Every morning throughout that summer I woke up to a fresh Swamp Mallow from his mother’s garden and a note that brought this 16 year old girl unbelievable happiness. Four years later we married and eventually had a son. We planted a Swamp Mallow bush at every home we owned after that. Sixty years later this flower is still a part of my heart.