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There is nothing more beautiful on an early spring morning than to come upon the lovely trillium, stretching her arms and raising her lovely face to catch a glimpse of the morning sun. But with all that beauty, it is the one thing that spoiled Aunt Bett's wedding day.
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Trillium graceful, Trillium white, Star of the woodland, lady of light .....Milena Mateska Growing up in the mountains as I did, it was a rare day in May that I didn't encounter a cluster of Trillium, those beautiful early spring flowers that leave us breathless with their simple beauty. I learned about them in early morning treks up the mountainside when I was a child. This is a story about a simple flower that often is left off the lists of the popular and the beautiful, and a bit of the mystery and lore that surrounds it. The white Trillium was the one that greeted me every spring, but it is just as lovely dressed in its other colors. It surprises me that little poetry is dedicated to this plant, but that could be because it hides itself very well, beneath the spreading limbs of the larger trees of the forest. The Trillium that I know grows in the undisturbed shadow of forests located on the western edge of the Appalachian mountains. I discovered it one morning when I was on one one of my adventures with Aunt Bett. It was a morning in May, very early, and the dew was heavy enough to have dampened the rolled up legs of my jeans. We came upon a cluster of wonderful three petaled white flowers, and just below the three white petals were three green leaves. It was as magical as having a white carpet in front of us. But Aunt Bett said the flowers were sacred, and that we must not pick them. We had not climbed that mountain in search of the Trillium that day, but we stopped when we got to them and she told me a story that lodged itself in my heart. The Trillium is a member of the lily family, she said, and Native American women treated the root of the plant as sacred. They gathered the root which was then made into a decoction and was used to treat the monthly discomfort that women often suffer. It was also regularly used to ease the pain of childbirth. The Native American warriors often carried the root of the Trillium with them as they went into battle, chewing it to give them added strength and protection. It was also considered to be a treatment for gangrene. It was my mother who called the plant Trillium, Aunt Bett's name for it was Wake Robin. She said it appeared at about the same time the robins began to wake from the winter and make their first appearance to welcome spring. She told me that the flower was both edible and medicinal, but that it was a very fragile flower. The leaves can be cooked as a pot herb, and the root as a medicine was dried, made into a decoction and used as an antiseptic, a diuretic, and to cure eye or ear infections in addition to the methods used by the Native Americans. "But," said Aunt Bett, "the Wake Robin is not something that we are going to use because it is too sacred." Now if you remember, I believed every word that fell from Aunt Bett's lips, but in this one instance, I asked why it was sacred. Aunt Bett told me this story.... "Three is a sacred number," she said. "Everything in the Bible is mentioned in threes. This here flower has three petals, it has three leaves and that is all that is on the single stem. If you pick the flower you pick the leaves too, and then the plant dies. If you pick all of the plants that you see here, then the cluster dies, and it will be many years before they will grow back." I asked her just how she knew that, which was obviously not a respectful thing to say to a Mountain Medicine woman. But instead of being angry that I questioned her, she told me a very sad secret, one that I always remembered. "When I was a young woman, I wanted to carry these flowers on my wedding day. I got up early that morning and filled a pail about half full of well water. I carried the pail with me on my way to pick the flowers. When I came to the spot on the mountainside where the WakeRobin grew, there were so many I got greedy and I filled my pail full of them. I carried them back down the mountain and back to my home. I began to fill jars with water so that I could set them around the room where the preacher was coming to marry us, but by the time I got ready to take the flowers out of the pail and put them into the jars, the flowers were wilted and were turning brown. They all turned brown and I had no flowers to carry into my marriage. You are old enough to hear this, girl. I think it was because I kilt the flowers that I was never able to have children. It took them flowers many, many years to come back again, and they didn't come back in the same place. It was because I had stole a sacred flower." You know, that was the first time it occurred to me that Aunt Bett was not just a medicine woman. She was a woman who wanted children yet she blamed herself for never having had any. I remember being too timid to tell her that I was sorry, and she probably didn't want sympathy anyway, but that was the first time that I knew for sure that she might like me just a little bit, because as far as I knew she had told me a secret that she had carried in her heart for a long time. I felt a little different about her after that day, and I remember shedding a tear because she had been punished for touching a sacred flower. What a sad thing to happen, I thought to myself, but I listened to what she had to say next: "Those flowers were meant to be picked only for those who are hungry and have nothing else to eat, or those who are sick and ain't got no other medicine. They are never to be used for any other purpose." Aunt Bett started on down the mountain, and of course, sad or not, I simply had to tempt the fates and pick one of the flowers, but only one because I planned to have children one day. I hoped maybe just one wouldn't count against me. I had a little water left in the fruit jar that I had brought with me so I placed the Trillium in it, slipped it back into the brown paper sack and went on down the mountain. Sure enough, when I got home, the Trillium was wilted and brown and I promised myself and the powers that be that I would never pick another Trillium. I have kept that promise, and I have two lovely children and one grandchild. It wasn't until I was much older and saw these lovely flowers growing in a shaded area of a small field here in western Kentucky that I remembered Aunt Bett's story. Being always inquisitive and wanting to know why, I began to do a little research on the Trillium. It is a single stem which holds a swirl of three leaves, topped by a solitary 3 petaled flower. In the eastern US, most often the petals are white, but those found in the northern and western states can be purple and sometimes dark red. The medicinal qualities and herbal usages are just as Aunt Bett told me. The awe in which Aunt Bett held the plant, however, might be caused by the fact that the three leaves below the flower store the plant's only food. Once it has been cut, food no longer can make its way to the petals or to the stem, it immediately begins to wilt and turn brown. The seeds of the Trillium are spread by mice and ants, territorial creatures, which is why the Trillium grows in clusters. Once a plant has been cut, it takes about seven years for it to recover, and it takes about fifteen years to grow from seed to bloom. Because of its fragility, some states have made it illegal to pick the Trillium. The white Trillium is the emblem and official flower of Ontario, and it features prominently in the Franco Ontarian flag. This graceful flower with all its mystery is one of my favorites. It was named in the 1700's by Linnaeus who was known as the father of modern taxonomy. Of course Aunt Bett had no way of accumulating these facts. I doubt she had ever traveled very far outside her farm. He knowledge was inherited, handed down from a mother to a child. She was wise beyond her time in medicinal uses of plants, but was limited by the inability to delve into theories outside her realm of knowledge. Television had yet to make an appearance in the mountains and resource books were few and far between. I always have to stop and take a closer look when I see a cluster of white flowers hoping always that they are Trillium. They grow low to the land, and look like a beautiful white carpet spread upon a forest floor. I have never seen them in a garden, and have never been able to transplant them successfully, though I am sure in this day and age it is entirely possible. When I do see them, I always remember that the Trillium is the flower that spoiled my Great Aunt Bett's wedding day, and that makes it sacred to me. Photos are from Plant Files. A special thank you to Pixie62560 for the red and to Galenthophile for the lovely white Trillium photos. The Franco Ontarian flag is from this website: www.ofa.gov.on.ca/english/commun-flag.html
 | I am a retired high school art and humanities teacher. I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of southeast KY and now I live with my two rescued cats, Jazz and Daisy, in far western KY. I love daylilies and perennials, and thanks to my DG friends this year I am adding roses to my gardens.
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Subject: My favorite spring wildflower
Posted by joanfav (from Walnut Creek, CA) on May 12, 2008 at 5:41 PM:What a wonderful story. Here in California, all the Giant Trilliums I have come across are dark red. In the past few years, I have timed it to returned to the same hiking trails just to see catch a glimpsed of these beauties. They always wow me. Hopefully in the future I'll come across a white flower trillium. ...
Subject: what a gift!
Posted by eeeelaine88 (from Christiansburg, VA) on May 12, 2008 at 9:30 AM:I thoroughly enjoyed your article... I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains and am quite familiar with the pleasure of coming across a cluster of trillium in the woods... I can hear my own great grandmother in the tone of your story... seems fitting that I read it just past Mother's Day... Thank you for sharing!
Elaine ...
Subject: Captivated by the title
Posted by Seedtosser1 (from Glenview, IL) on May 8, 2008 at 6:21 PM:This story of the Trillium and her absolute beauty, has made me cry for Aunt Bett.
Almost immediatley I stopped. It must be the way she told you her secret.
With surity, and just how it is, and clear exceptance. Wow, she just amazes me every time you tell a story.
I am sorry she didn't have flowers at her wedding, or was unable to have children...
But I am most glad she had you. I think you, her "girl" makes her proud!
You have a remarkable way of teaching as you tell a story of your childhood. I always walk away with addtional knowledge and added respect for Nature.
And now I hope I am lucky enough to stumble on some Trillium up north.
Of course, I think picking just that one with the promise was ok, now you have a beautiful family to pass down the your stories to. I wonder, Do you think Aunt Bett knew?
P.S. The Red Trillum is Stunning. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 8, 2008 at 6:33 PM: Your post almost brought a tear. Well, of course Aunt Bett knew I sneaked that trillium. Probably expected me to.
I think Aunt Bett knew I was absorbing whatever she taught, too. When I think about my relationship with her, I realize that we had a great deal of understanding between us. We communicated without words.
Hard to explain. When we were together we had common thought. All the other elders in my life had other children to tend to or to just be with. Aunt Bett didn't. I lived closer to her than any of the other cousins, so I was available.
And I was very quiet, and at that age was more comfortable around adults because except for school there were no other kids around. I do wish she knew just how important she was to me. I like to think that she does know.
But I sometimes worry that I never told her.
I always enjoy your comments. Thank you.
... Posted by Seedtosser1 (from Glenview, IL) on May 8, 2008 at 8:42 PM: Oh Shar,
You know, You told her in so many ways...With your art, your dying of fabric, with your interst of "daring" to ask a question, wearing the Stinky bag, listening and all, she taught you well and you learned and teach beautiful!
She Knows.
Unspoken isn't so bad...
I think she is smiling, even shoulder shaking laughter sometimes...Because you ARE Aunt Betts legacy, your love shines all over every articlcle and piece of her knowledge expands today...worldwide.
I definately say Aunt Bett knows. ... Posted by jasmerr (from Merrimac, WI) on May 10, 2008 at 9:59 AM: Sharon,
My heart stopped when I read the part of why Aunt Bett thought she didn't have children. How sad she carried that her whole life, but how wonderful she shared her time and knowledge with you.
Thank you for sharing your Aunt Bett with me and everyone here at DG. I will always think of you and Aunt Bett when I see Trillium!
Jody
♥♥♥♥
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 10, 2008 at 10:04 AM: Jody, thank you.
The trillium article was hard for me to write, too.
Her theory was to never take more from Mother Earth than was needed, and she sure did live by her own standards.
I am glad you like the Aunt Bett articles.
Most of the time I like writing them.
sharon ...
Subject: I got goose bumps!
Posted by Sundownr (from Wytheville, VA) on May 8, 2008 at 10:20 AM:This one gave me goose bumps as I read about Aunt Bett not having any children because of her greed in picking the Trillium. The poor, poor woman!
I think your writing has given us all an Aunt Bett to learn from and refer to! Her teachings to you have now spread throughout the world, for another generation (or three) through your writing.
Thanks for sharing another touching story!
Bev ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 8, 2008 at 10:27 AM: Thanks Bev, nice to hear from you again.
I don't think Aunt Bett lived in a perpetual state of sadness, she was just very matter of fact about it. She thought she had wronged nature by taking a bunch of her children for such frivolity as a wedding day. If anything she was trying to teach me a lesson. At least I think of it in that way. It would hurt too much to remember her as sad. She was truly a live wire, and always smiling.
But, this particular story was hard for me to write, because it was one of the emotional ones.
Again, thank you. ... Posted by Sundownr (from Wytheville, VA) on May 8, 2008 at 10:40 AM: I'm sure having you, as her little sidekick, gave Aunt Bett some needed 'kid comfort', lol.
BTW, I got Wish You Well, but haven't had the time to crack the cover. I'm taking it on vacation, so maybe I'll get a chance to relax and read! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 8, 2008 at 11:28 AM: You will love it, I promise. So much so that you won't want it to end. It could go hand in hand with Aunt Bett's story, but more professionally done, because Baldacci is a wonderful writer.
...
Subject: Wow!
Posted by lratliff29 (from Rossville, IN) on May 7, 2008 at 8:30 PM:Your story touched me and I find myself fighting to hold the tears from trailing down my cheek. This is a beautiful story and I'm happy that you shared it. I just recently purchased 5 Trillium roots and planted them. I'm sad to hear that they may not bloom but if they do, I will appreciate the flower much more. This is a story that I will remember and share with my friends and family.
Thank you. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 8:37 PM: How sweet of you to tell me, and I am sure that if you try to replicate a woodland home for them, they will grow and bloom for you. The wild ones are a little tempermental, but if you don't change their environment too much, they might make it. Good luck. ...
Subject: I feel blessed
Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 1:14 AM:I feel blessed to have such a rare and wonderful flower in abundance in our woods here. I didn't know they were valued medicinally, and what a bittersweet story about Aunt Bett's wedding flowers! I probably will think of her every time I see them now.
I was thinking of trying to transplant one, and even somehow send one in the mail, but it sounds like they are too fragile. Here is what ours look like:
Edit: Sorry it's a little blurred.
This message was edited May 7, 2008 1:16 AM ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 1:51 AM: Nice to hear from you. I have had no luck in transplanting out of their environment, though I did try quite often when I lived in the mountains. They just don't seem to like being disturbed. But I am sure there have been some successes, and yours might be one of them. Good luck, and let me know what happens.
Thanks,
sharon ... Posted by debilu (from Fingerlakes Region, NY) on May 7, 2008 at 5:06 AM: I have white Trillium in my garden, some I bought, some my sister dug from her garden, which she transplanted from her woods. The ones from my sister's garden are doing better than the one's I bought.
Trillium remind me of my mom. Loved the article! ... Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on May 7, 2008 at 8:31 AM: What a lovely story, Sharon, even with the unhappy part about Aunt Bett not being able to have the children she wanted. I love your writing! ... Posted by Lindawalkabout (from Holden, MO) on May 7, 2008 at 9:49 AM: Awesome story, and I too will always think of Aunt Bett's when I see a Trillium . My heart is sadden to of the story you shared but uplifted to the love she had for you , and you for her.
Just a couple of weeks ago I dug up some Trillium from my sisters woods and put a couple in my woods to see how they transplant,.
Just got back after reading your story to check them out. One is doing great and the other not so great, hope the roots will take hold.
I just got them before they started to flower. I did not know about their value other then being a wonderful flower to find in the woods while I morel hunt.
Thank you for sharing your lovely stories in the mountains with your Aunt Bett. They make me smile , laugh out loud and cry in the my heart.
and forgot to add, knowledge and wisdom to my mind and soul. Thank you
This message was edited May 7, 2008 7:51 AM ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 10:03 AM: I am so glad some of you have been able to transplant those fragile little beauties.
My attempts to transplant them were unsuccessful due to my age, no doubt, though I was still attempting to do it when I was an adult. My mother always said they would transplant if the soil content, environment, etc were replicated.
Now I just leave them where I find them, and send Aunt Bett a smile or two.
Thank you for all your comments. ... Posted by wannadanc (from Olympia, WA) on May 7, 2008 at 10:12 AM: I, too, was raised w/ all that wisdom about not picking the Trillium - and in later life, as a science teacher, I was able to emphasize this to my students - as well as pointing out the biology behind that.
On transplant - just one - and it is blooming today!!!
Spotting the first Trillium of the spring is rather like spotting the first pussy willows ........
Thanks so much for the article ........ ... Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on May 7, 2008 at 12:21 PM: I still remember the trilliums from our woods. My mom said also not to pick them or then they would be gone. I still remember the day I found a red one, and I didn't pick it hoping the next year there would be more.
But when I went back the next year, there were only white ones. ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on May 7, 2008 at 12:28 PM: Another great story, Sharon. It's always a treat to spot them while hiking. Thank you. ... Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 3:36 PM: Hmm, good to hear some encouraging reports about transplanting! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 5:04 PM: It is encouraging to know that some are having success with trillium transplants. Maybe there is hope for me yet.
Fun to read your comments, thank you. ... Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on May 7, 2008 at 5:33 PM: Ive seen trillium plants for sale. I sure would like to have a little colony of red one's if I can make a woodsy home for them.
don't know if they would like Alabama. I know they really belong north of here. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 5:44 PM: The trillium plants that are for sale that I have seen don't quite resemble the wild ones, something seems different about them.
Like different colored Monarda instead of the red of the wild ones.
And different shades of Spiderwort instead of the sky blue.
Something about the ones for sale now is just a little off kilter, you know?
Still beautiful, though, and still very special. ... Posted by debilu (from Fingerlakes Region, NY) on May 7, 2008 at 5:50 PM: You're right Sharon, the ones from my sister's woods are bigger, taller, more upright and seem a brighter white. The ones I bought at least 3 years ago now, are about 1/2 the size. I just bought more bare root trillium from Lowe's this year, they had both red and white, but I only bought the white. It'll probably take a few years for the last ones to get going. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 5:53 PM: Maybe it won't take very long, Deb, you are in a good region for them. ... Posted by flowerhead410 (from Nelson, NH) on May 7, 2008 at 6:26 PM: Shar, once a gain a really wonderful story. You bring tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing your wonderful stories and wisdom. ... Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 6:30 PM: Wonderful story, as always. Thank you. ... Posted by randbponder (from Hornick, IA) on May 7, 2008 at 9:55 PM: I too have to thank you. It seems that when my friend and I are walking through the timber, looking for Morels, he will ask me what kind of flower, this or that one is. and again this year I had explained to him that the three leaves and three petals were Trillium. And the May apples and Dutchman's britches. Though we haven't found any Morels yet this year it has always been a very good walk, and great exersize. as it is a rather steep gully with a very tiny stream running through it.
I did not know about the medicinal value, that will be another interesting fact I can pass on to any one else when we are traipsing through the woods in the spring. Thank you for a wonderful story.
Russ ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 10:12 PM: Thank you, good luck with the Morels, Russ.
... Posted by herbalbetty (from Middleburgh, NY) on May 12, 2008 at 7:03 AM: Sharon, a beautiful story. My heart goes out to Aunt Bett.
I grew up on the Canadian border of NY state and there was a spot in the woods down the road from us that was filled with trilliums. We also knew they were a protected plant. A few years ago, when the road was to be widened, I traveled home to dig up a few trilliums rather than have them bulldozed under. I am happy to report they are doing well in my woodland garden. The red trilliums we always called stinkpots due to the smell. Not pleasant! ... Posted by debilu (from Fingerlakes Region, NY) on May 12, 2008 at 7:07 AM: I remember when I was young how my mom told a story about my oldest brother picking stink pots for her for Mother's Day, and how bad they smelled but she put them in a vase anyway.
So, that's why I always liked trillium, and planted white ones because of my mom. They didn't smell bad, so I knew I had the wrong plant, but now I know it was just the wrong color!
... Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on May 12, 2008 at 7:57 AM: When I saw them at a nursery, over the weekend, I thought of Aunt Bett and Sharon. ... Posted by Doe41 (from Dyersburg, TN) on May 12, 2008 at 11:54 AM: Gloria, I've seen trillium growing wild in the woods at Pinson Ala. They will grow in Ala. Thanks, Sharon for the lovely article, I do enjoy "Aunt Bett"!
Doe41/Audrey ... Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on May 12, 2008 at 12:01 PM: Doe41. Thanks for the information. Ill have to check if they will grow this far south (zone 8B) ... Posted by starfarmer (from Ann Arbor, MI) on May 12, 2008 at 2:14 PM: @gloria125: Trillium sulcatum, the Southern Red trillium, is native to your area. To see a picture, check out [HYPERLINK@www.flickr.com] . Trillium stamineum is also native to Alabama but it is more of a collector's plant with odd greeny-red flowers. If you're set on a white-flowered wakerobin, look for Trillium simile.
As far as I can determine, at least 9 species of Trillium are native to Alabama, so you should be able to find at least ONE that works! My favorite is Trillium catesbaei, which is pale pink, nodding and looks rather like a Stargazer lily! For a list of most of them with links to pictures (along with many other stunning native Alabama plants) check out [HYPERLINK@www.alabamaplants.com] . Check with local Native Plant Societies for sources of plants and seed
One of the reasons for-sale trilliums may not look like the ones you grew up with is that there are over 50 species in the genus Trillium. Almost 40 are native to either the eastern or western parts of temperate North America; another five show up in Siberia, China & the Himalayas.
BTW, although the Flora of North America and other sources lists Trillium as being in the Lily family, most no longer consider them so. They were transferred to their own family Trilliaceae a few decades ago and then, about eight years ago were assigned to a distinctive family Melanthiaceae as a result of recent genetic and phylogenic studies (it's still in the Liliales, though, although more in the direction of "Kangaroo Paws" and Tradescantias than "pure" lilies!). Some other plants of the Melanthiaceae you may be familiar with are Paris (Herb Paris), Veratrum (False Hellebore ), Xerophyllum (Beargrass) and Zigadenus ( Death Camas and Star Lily). Of course, some authorities disagree with all of this...for a good overview of the contrary view, check out [HYPERLINK@www.goldsword.com] .
A subject rich in folklore, medicine, history and science...what more can you ask for?
Cheers,
Len
... Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on May 12, 2008 at 4:08 PM: starfarmer: thanks for the information. As an archaeologist I have done a lot of stomping around in the Alabama woods in most seasons.
Ive never seen a trillium here. Its good to know they SHOULD be here.
thanks for the links.
gloria ... Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on May 12, 2008 at 8:31 PM: Ya know, I never thought to smell the red ones here. Gee, I do hope they're not "stinkpots", lol ! ...
Subject: Thank you!
Posted by terriculture (from london
(United Kingdom)) on May 6, 2008 at 8:18 PM:I really enjoyed this story! Fascinating and sad about Aunt Bett's wedding day, but great for you to have the memories and to share them with us. Thank you Sharon. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 6, 2008 at 8:43 PM: How sweet you are, Terri. It always amazes me that it is only 7:40 Tuesday here, and already Wednesday there. But when it pops up on my screen I always know it is you.
Thank you.
... Posted by terriculture (from london
(United Kingdom)) on May 6, 2008 at 8:55 PM: Sometimes I wait until the next day. All the same I am your number 1 fan. LoL! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 6, 2008 at 8:56 PM: Sweet! ... Posted by onewish1 (from Denville, NJ) on May 7, 2008 at 6:00 AM: thank you for sharing your story ... Posted by pixie62560 (from South China, ME) on May 7, 2008 at 7:51 AM: Of course I loved the story just as I've loved all your stories and wished I had an Aunt Bett! Thank you for sharing.
The key to tranplanting is to get as much soil as you can from around the roots with out disturbing them and plant in almost identical enviroment. I sent some to Pirl and Dave47....now I need to ask them if they survived!
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 7, 2008 at 10:06 AM: Pixie, I know you are absolutely correct, as I said in my last post on the other thread. I think the secret is in the soil and in replicating the environment. I hope Pirl and Dave are enjoying your gifts.
So glad you like Aunt Bett. ...
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