Very interesting piece of family history.

[ebinmaine 78,020]

My mom has been poking around going through old stuff at the house. She found this newspaper clipping from summer of 1974. 

 

Bruce of course is my late father. @Qball

 

Yes... The Ugly Bruce.   

 

The plant in the following piece is still alive and thriving. If it was blooming in 1917 it was at least several years old then. So now it's 110? More?

 

 

Horticultural Happening In Petersham

 

By RUTH BASSINGTHWAITE

 

PETERSHAM - Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Banks of Hardwick road recently had a "horticultural happening" in their home.

 

A spider lily plant, last known to blossom some 15 years ago, began to bloom with one after another of the slender flowers appearing as day followed day.

 

The bulb from which the plant has grown is known to be at least 60 years old, members of the family say. It belonged to the late Mrs. Lizzie Rich, Banks' great grandmother. In June of 1917 the plant responded to the bridal blooming month by wholeheartedly for the wedding of Edward and Mildred (Rich) Welch, the present owners' grandparents.

 

Mrs. Vernon Banks, formerly Roberta Welch, had the plant for many years, but, not considering herself a green thumb expert, just "let it be" until her son and wife set up their own home.

 

Mrs. Banks considers her daughter-in-law to be "a good hand with flowers" and it must be so. The younger Mrs. Banks noted that it was possible to witness the unfolding bud to flower production in an hour or two.

 

How she had time to watch is a mystery to us as "almost four year old" Eric, and Heidi and Alana, nine month old twins, provide plenty of action every hour of every day.